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Fatal fall: 72-year-old died while gardening in Dechantskirchen
A 72-year-old fell fatally from a ladder while gardening in Dechantskirchen. Investigations revealed no foul play.
Fatal fall: 72-year-old died while gardening in Dechantskirchen
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a tragic accident occurred in Dechantskirchen, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld district. A 72-year-old man from Eastern Styria fell from a ladder that was leaning against a cherry tree while working in the garden. The fall occurred about four meters high when the man was busy doing his work alone from midday onwards. He last spoke to a neighbor before continuing the work.
The situation escalated when the man's wife, who was supposed to be picked up around 4:30 p.m., received no response. Concerned, she called a family member to check on the 72-year-old. During this check, the man was discovered lying under the cherry tree. First aid was immediately attempted by an alarmed neighbor, but this was no longer successful. The man already showed clear signs of death and any foul play was ruled out.
Background to the accident statistics
In 2021, 12,957 accidents were recorded, including two fatal ones. The most accident-prone devices in horticulture include hedge trimmers, hand saws, chainsaws, cut-off grinders and excavators, each of which resulted in several hundred registered accidents. The SVLFG's prevention work focuses on the risk analysis of these procedures in order to increase safety in gardening.
The deceased man's relatives are receiving support during this difficult time from a crisis intervention team that provides emotional support. Such tragic incidents highlight the importance of safety measures and awareness of potential hazards in horticulture.