Christmas tree sinking on Lake Ratzersdorfer: water rescue commemorates victim!

Christmas tree sinking on Lake Ratzersdorfer: water rescue commemorates victim!

Ratzersdorfer See, St. Pölten, Österreich - On December 20, the Austrian water rescue in St. Pölten held its traditional event of the Christmas tree sinking in Ratzersdorfer See. This annual ritual, which has been practiced since the 1970s, serves as a memory act for the people who have died in or on the water. Section manager Doris Horvath emphasized: "This campaign is carried out as a thank you for a unscathed summer and in memory of an accident in and under water," reported Noen.at .

In the past season, the water rescue recorded a total of 123 missions that extended over 1,940 hours. The particularly challenging year 2024, characterized by a large flood in September, presented the emergency services in front of immense tasks, as Horvath added: "We had to evacuate and save countless people and animals." During the celebrations, in addition to the water rescue, the Samaritan, the Red Cross, various fire brigades and the rescue dog handler near the lake gathered, where Mayor Matthias Stadler handed over the tree to the divers href = "https://www.meinbezirk.at/st-poelten/c-lokales/gägenkfeier-christbaum-im-ratzersdorfer-sesenkt_a158915"> meinzirk.at also explained that the memory is also devoted to the deceased, but also a sign of community and cohesion in particularly difficult times represent.