Tragic subway surfing: 17-year-old dies after accident in Vienna

Tragic subway surfing: 17-year-old dies after accident in Vienna

In a tragic turn, there was a fatal incident on Friday when a 17-year-old died in the hospital after an accident during the so-called "subway surfing". According to confirmed information from the AUVA, the young person had previously been brought to the trauma center in Meidling with serious injuries. An 18-year-old, who was also involved in the incident, was cared for in general hospital (AKH), where, according to a spokeswoman, there were no changes in his condition.

The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the 17-year-old and the 18-year-old tried to climb the roof of a subway on the U4 line. Together with two other young people, a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, they went on a dangerous test of courage. Shortly before they reached the Schönbrunn station, they crashed into a pedestrian overpass. While the 16-year-old only drew minor injuries, the 13-year-old and his attendees remained unharmed.

Enlightenment and prevention in focus

The Viennese lines were affected by the incident and expressed their deepest sympathy for the relatives of the deceased youth. In a statement, they emphasized the importance of prevention measures in schools, which are carried out in cooperation with the police and the educational directorate. The initiatives include workshops and subway tours for students to draw attention to the dangers of such risky actions.

"We have an urgent to refrain from refraining from such forbidden and life-threatening actions. No tictok video or selfie is worth risking your life," warns a spokesman for the Viennese lines. Furthermore, they encouraged users of the subway to use the emergency calls on the trains or on the platforms in dangerous situations. Despite the existing security measures, there are unfortunately no willing actions in public space.

The police have initiated the investigation into the incident, and the Viennese lines check a possible advertisement in accordance with §46 of the Railway Act, which prohibits climbing rail vehicles. This incident throws a light on the dangers that are associated with social media and the urge for attention, and underlines the need to educate younger people about the risks.