Tragedy in St. Martin: Family father fatally falls from the balcony!

Tragedy in St. Martin: Family father fatally falls from the balcony!

On June 1, 2025, a tragic incident in St. Martin in Sulmtal, Styria, became known when the relatives of a 53-year-old man from the district of Germany found him lifeless on the lawn under the balcony of his single-family house. The first help measures were initiated at around 12:40 p.m. after the family discovered the man. Unfortunately, the emergency team could only determine the death of the man. As a result, the family is looked after by a crisis intervention team (KIT) of the State of Styria. The incident occurred during renovation work on their own house, especially on a balcony that was without mounted railings. This is particularly critical, since a lack of security precautions often lead to serious injuries or even deaths.

Crash accidents in the construction and renovation industry represent one of the most common causes of fatal work accidents. According to bgbau.de, they make up more than 8 percent of all reporting accidents. It is particularly alarming that 50 percent of the fatal crash accidents are from heights of less than 5 meters. The most common triggers are ladders, scaffolding and the crashes of roofs. These accidents not only have tragic consequences for those affected, but also cause high costs for treatment and rehabilitation.

High security potential is used little

An investigation of accident statistics shows that between 2007 and 2016 in Germany over 92,500 fall and fall accidents were registered, which underlines the urgency of effective security management in the construction industry. According to iAG-Mainz.de, 69 percent of the crash accidents had causes that were due to defects in the planning. Often there were no reasonable risk assessments and safety precautions that are essential when working at heights, such as the balcony.

The legal requirements are clear: Entrepreneurs are obliged to comply with safety regulations and to ensure suitable protective measures. According to the regulations, fall protection at workplaces with risk of falling must be available. A lack of these precautions can not only have fatal consequences, but also bring legal consequences for those responsible. In the case of renovation or construction, these aspects should always be treated as the top priority to avoid accidents such as the tragic incident in St. Martin.