Injured every year

After an accident: How safe are summer toboggan runs?

Relatively speaking, there are few accidents on summer toboggan runs.(Bild: Sommerrodelbahn Koglhof/Rene Strasser)

Two young girls were injured in an accident on the summer toboggan run in Koglhof on Tuesday. Every year, a number of young patients end up in pediatric surgery in Graz after such incidents. However, one expert does not see any real danger. 

The girls who were injured on Tuesday were seven and eight years old: After a left-hand bend, several toboggans came to a halt. The children noticed the traffic jam too late, hit it and were thrown out of the toboggan. The rescue helicopter took them to Graz LKH.

Last year, two young people from Vienna were seriously injured in Koglhof when they crashed in a bend. Two young Viennese were also thrown from their sledges in 2021. So how dangerous are these leisure attractions?

Patients nine years old on average
Peter Spitzer from "Große schützen Kleine", a research center for child accidents in Graz, provides information: From 2016 to 2023, a total of 30 children and young people were admitted to Graz Children's Surgery following accidents on summer toboggan runs; only five were seriously injured, for example with facial contusions and fractures. On average, there have been five to six young patients in recent years - average age nine years. There is hardly any difference between boys and girls.

Often too little distance is the cause
According to Spitzer, too little distance was the cause in 60 percent of cases, and in 43 percent of cases the victims were thrown out of the toboggan. "You should always use a harness if you have one," says the expert. It is also not without danger when adults are out and about with children: The little ones are like an airbag for the adults and can be pushed against the front frame in the event of a collision. 

There have also been cases of selfies and videos being taken with a cell phone while driving. This can end badly. The golden rules according to Spitzer: "Keep your distance! Adjust your speed! Use a seatbelt!"