Swimming accidents in Vienna: 85-year-old dies, children and men at acute risk!

Swimming accidents in Vienna: 85-year-old dies, children and men at acute risk!

A fatal weekend for swimming enthusiasts in Vienna: On Sunday there were several swimming accidents that kept the emergency services on tenterhooks. Events took a tragic turn when an 85-year-old died after an incident in the New Danube. The woman was pulled unconscious from the water by passers-by and acquaintances and resuscitated, but she later died in hospital South Tyrol News reported. Despite all the efforts of the police and rescue workers, who continued resuscitation until the emergency services arrived, her life could not be saved.

But that wasn't the only swimming accident on that tragic day. Three more incidents occurred in the area. An eight-year-old child in the Hirschstetten bathing pond floated in the water for several minutes before his parents and emergency services could resuscitate him. The child was taken to hospital by helicopter in critical condition and is in critical condition. Another swimming accident occurred around 4:10 p.m. on the Neue Donau, where a 28-year-old man went under and was also rescued by passers-by. He is also being treated in the intensive care unit and is in critical condition.

Growing concern about swimming accidents

There have been regular swimming accidents in Vienna in the past. In particular, in the summer of 2024, at least two people died in the city's waters, but the overall number of swimming deaths in Austria seems alarming: 39 people died from drowning last year District Journal reported. It is evident that rescue organizations emphasize the need to behave responsibly in order to avoid such accidents.

The Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) reported that the two survivors - the child and the 41-year-old man who was taken out of the water on the Nureyev Promenade - are also in mortal danger. Below lies a 41-year-old who was rescued and resuscitated. He too is leaving his fate in the hands of medical professionals and is in critical condition.

Prevention measures are required

The Vienna outdoor pools, which opened their doors on May 2nd, have already attracted many visitors this season. Nevertheless, the sudden influx of swimming enthusiasts shows that carelessness and lack of safety precautions can have fatal consequences. Experts therefore advise that children should never play unsupervised near water and that swimming aids cannot replace the need for supervision. “,”br />To increase safety, the Workers’ Samaritan Association recommends:,”,”

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• Langsame Eingewöhnung ins Wasser, plötzliche Sprünge vermeiden.

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• Körper benötigt Zeit, um sich an die Wassertemperatur anzupassen.

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• Vor dem Schwimmen abduschen und gemütlich ins Wasser gleiten.

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• Mutproben vermeiden und möglichst in Gruppen schwimmen.

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In addition, the Samaritan Association offers swimming courses for children and adults to improve swimming skills and thus reduce the risk of swimming accidents.

With more mature behavior around and in the water, a lot of misfortune could be avoided. Regarding the recent incidents and the ever-growing number of swimming accidents in Vienna: It is high time to become aware of the importance of safety and a sense of responsibility.