Calls not heard

Pensioner lay in his apartment for days

The man was rescued from his apartment by the ambulance and fire department.(Bild: Ortsfeuerwehr Brand)

A dramatic incident has occurred in the Vorarlberg municipality of Brand. An 80-year-old pensioner collapsed in his apartment on Sunday. He lay on the floor for around two and a half days before he was able to call the emergency services with the last of his strength.

The 80-year-old must have been in unimaginable agony. The cries for help from the pensioner, who lived alone, went unheard and it was only on Tuesday evening that he managed to crawl to the phone and dial the emergency number.

Apartment door broken open
As the apartment was locked, the Brand local fire department was called out. After a brief assessment of the situation, the apartment door was broken open using a "Ziehfix", after which the man was rescued and taken to hospital.

The man was rescued from his apartment by the ambulance and fire department.(Bild: Ortsfeuerwehr Brand)

"Neighbors can save lives"
The case is also shocking because the pensioner's suffering went undetected for so long. The Brand fire department therefore issued an urgent appeal to the public: "Attentive neighbors can save lives! It's better to ask too much than too little. If you don't see your neighbors for a while or don't hear from them, don't hesitate to act!"