Medical Emergency

The Heart! Shocking Moments in the ORF Soccer Studio During the World Cup

A dramatic medical emergency in the soccer studio at the ORF Center in Vienna overshadowed World Cup coverage—which included soccer legend Herbert Prohaska—of Germany’s final group stage match against Ecuador.(Bild: stock.adobe.com/Andrey VP, Thomas Ramstorfer, Krone KREATIV Collage)

Shocking scenes overshadowed this week’s World Cup coverage featuring soccer legend Herbert Prohaska during the Germany match at the ORF Center. After a heart attack in the studio, an emergency medical helicopter even had to land. The “Krone” has the details.

A flurry of emergency lights and anxious moments on Thursday evening at the ORF Center on Vienna’s Küniglberg. Ambulances, firefighters, and police were on the scene. As confirmed to the “Krone,” it was a dramatic rescue operation following a medical emergency.

What happened? A cameraman, approximately 55 years old, suddenly collapsed—heart attack!—in the newsroom, which had been converted into a studio, during the recording of Germany’s final World Cup group stage match against Ecuador, featuring prominent sports commentators such as soccer legend Herbert Prohaska and Andreas Ivanschitz.

A dramatic medical emergency in the soccer studio at the ORF Center in Vienna overshadowed the World Cup coverage—which included soccer legend Herbert Prohaska—of Germany’s final group stage match against Ecuador.(Bild: stock.adobe.com/Andrey VP, Thomas Ramstorfer, Krone KREATIV Collage)

Soccer broadcast completed with a delay
The victim, whose life was in danger, was successfully resuscitated by first responders in the studio. An emergency medical helicopter then immediately flew the ORF employee to Vienna General Hospital (AKH). The man is now there—reportedly “in stable condition”—in the intensive care unit. Despite the shocking incident, the soccer show was professionally completed with a one-hour delay.

Criticism After a Sigh of Relief
After the initial relief that the rescue chain had functioned perfectly, ORF employees are nevertheless voicing criticism behind closed doors: A defibrillator was not at its usual location, the freight elevator intended for transporting the victim on a stretcher was blocked, and a key for it could not be found quickly enough.