Remains recovered

Excavation work: Suddenly a skeleton was found

New power lines were supposed to be laid in the Weinviertel municipality.(Bild: Netz NÖ)

During excavation work to reinforce the local grid in Helfens in the municipality of Niederleis in the Weinviertel region, the remains of a person were found alongside a hand grenade from the Second World War. The war relic was recovered and the dead person was removed from the construction site.

According to a press release issued by Netz Niederösterreich GmbH on Thursday, the war relic was recovered by the demining service and the dead person was removed from the construction site under the guidance of the Austrian Black Cross.

The buried grenade was defused by experts.(Bild: Netz NÖ)

"It happens from time to time that we find old grenades or aerial bombs during our pipeline projects," reported Thomas Krupicka, Head of the Netz Niederösterreich Service Center Stockerau. "But fortunately, we never find a dead person."

According to the press release, the excavation work was stopped immediately after the hand grenade was found. Subsequently, the demining service searched the nearby area for other war relics and discovered human remains as well as detonators.