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What should have been a normal ski day ended tragically for a family from Denmark. A father (49), his brother (46), as well as his son (20) and his daughter (19) were in a cabin on the Ackerkogelbahn.
Then, for reasons still unclear, a tree fell. He grabbed the cabin’s anchorage. The gondola broke free from the carrying cable and fell – including its occupants – to the ground from a height of eight to ten meters. All suffered serious injuries.
“The pulse was no longer palpable”
Christian Niederwanger, an emergency doctor from the Heli Austria crew, was involved in the rescue operation of the victims. The hut next to the tree was “totally crushed and dented” when helpers arrived, he told OE24. And further: “All four of them could have died and been lucky to survive at all.”
According to the newspaper, the 19-year-old Dane suffered facial injuries and a fracture in her spine. Her brother suffered a severe concussion and multiple back injuries. The uncle, on the other hand, broke his arm and several ribs. He is also said to have suffered a lung injury and five fractures in his back.
The accident hit the father the hardest. “He could hardly breathe, his pulse could no longer be felt,” the emergency doctor reports. After rescuers were able to stabilize and save him, he had to undergo emergency surgery. On Wednesday, a hospital spokesperson said he was still in “critical condition” and in intensive care.
Father and uncle thrown out of window
On Wednesday, the children’s mother, Patricia T.*, also posted an update on Facebook. There she writes: “My two children, their father and their uncle, had a serious accident in Austria. They all have serious and numerous injuries, but are in good hands in two hospitals in Austria.
The Dane continued to tell Danish news portal BT that her daughter told her what happened in the accident. Accordingly, the gondola is said to have crashed on a steep mountainside after colliding with the tree. The father and uncle were thrown out of the cabin window. They landed in the snow.
However, the daughter ended up in the gondola on top of her brother, who was unconscious. She immediately tried to call her father, without success. He was also unconscious. Only the uncle answered.
It took rescuers 30 minutes
The 19-year-old tried to call for help. She found the number of a nearby ski rental shop online, which in turn alerted emergency services. Rescuers are said to have arrived only about 30 minutes after the accident.
“My daughter contacted me via Facetime while her father was being picked up by the helicopter and she was waiting. At this point my son also woke up briefly. “It was so terrible to sit at home and not be able to do anything,” says the worried mother. She is now on her way to Austria.
In addition to the Danish family, two other people were injured by the strong vibrations of the suspension cable. The German couple, aged 58 and 62, were in the adjacent hut. As the newspaper reports, they have already been released from the hospital. (Mrs)
*Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
