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Fatal forestry accident in Glanhofen: 82-year-old hit by tree!
Fatal forestry accident in Glanhofen: 82-year-old dies after a tree falls on him. Safety instructions for forest work.
Fatal forestry accident in Glanhofen: 82-year-old hit by tree!
On July 20, 2025, a tragic forestry accident occurred in Glanhofen, Feldkirchen district. While carrying out forestry work, two men, an 82-year-old father and his 54-year-old son, were hit by a broken treetop. The accident happened shortly before 11 a.m. when a tree was being worked on and became anchored. Due to the mishap, the treetop broke off and fell on the two of them. While the son escaped with minor injuries, his father was hit in the head and died shortly after being admitted to the Klagenfurt Clinic.
In Austria, fatal accidents during forest work are a serious risk. According to a report by Municipal There have been at least 197 fatal accidents in this work area in the last six years, an average of 33 per year. The year 2023 recorded the highest number with 36 deaths. In addition, 18 deaths have already been registered in the first two months of 2024, compared to only 7 in the previous year. The danger is particularly high in the months of January, February, March and September, when accidents occur more frequently.
Causes of accidents in the forestry sector
The most common causes of fatal accidents in the forest vary. 25% of accidents are caused by falling trees, another 19% are due to the movement of tree trunks or rhizomes. Falling branches and operating or securing errors in machines also contribute to accident statistics. Dr. Johanna Trauner-Karner warns that people should be particularly careful when working in the forest, as around 1,600 people in Austria are seriously injured every year and require hospital treatment. Although the volume of injuries appears low compared to other activities, the severity of injuries in this area is high.
To increase safety during forest work, preventive measures can be taken by the workers themselves. In addition, communities should carry out educational work and create awareness of the dangers in this professional field. The KFV (Board of Trustees for Road Safety), in cooperation with the AUVA, FHP and BFW, has published a brochure with tips for working safely when felling trees in order to promote safety awareness.