Fatal forest accident in Glanhofen: 82-year-old from Baum!

Fatal forest accident in Glanhofen: 82-year-old from Baum!

Glanhofen, Österreich - On July 20, 2025, a tragic forest accident occurred in Glanhofen, Feldkirchen district. In the implementation of forest work, two men, an 82-year-old father and his 54-year-old son, were met by a broken tree top. The accident happened shortly before 11 a.m. when a tree was edited and anchored. Due to the misfortune, the tree top broke off and fell on the two. While the son got away with minor injuries, his father was hit on the head and died shortly after he was admitted to the Klagenfurt Clinic.

In Austria, fatal accidents in forest work are a serious danger. According to a report by Kommunal there have been at least 197 fatal accidents in this work area in the past six years, which corresponds to an average of 33 per year. The year 2023 recorded the highest value with 36 deaths. In addition, 18 deaths were already registered in the first two months of 2024, compared to only 7 in the previous year. The danger is particularly high in January, February, March and September, in which accidents happen.

causes of accidents in the forest area

The most common causes of fatal accidents in the forest are different. 25% of the accidents are caused by decaying trees, another 19% are moving back to the movement of tree trunks or rootsticks. Also falling branches, as well as operating or safety errors in machines, also contribute to accident statistics. Dr. Johanna Trauner-Karner warns special mindfulness at work in the forest, as around 1,600 people in Austria are seriously injured and need hospital treatment every year. Although the injury volume seems low compared to other activities, the severity of the injuries in this area is high.

In order to increase security during forest work, preventive measures can be taken by the workers themselves. In addition, municipalities should provide educational work and raise awareness of the dangers in this professional field. In cooperation with AUVA, FHP and BFW, the KFV (Curatorium for Road Safety) has published a brochure with tips for safe working when felling trees to promote security awareness.