Action and mortal danger instead of relaxation was found by a 62-year-old in Kirchdorf am Inn. Because he fell through carelessness together with his car into the ice-cold Inn. An angler who was not afraid of danger, jumped into the water and saved the hypothermic Innviertler, who became his guardian angel.
The 62-year-old from Altheim wanted to relax and unwind in Kirchdorf am Inn at the former toll booth on the bank. According to his own statements, he mixed up the pedals of his station wagon and drove head-on over an approximately one meter high embankment into the Inn. The car was aborted about 30 meters in the river and the driver knew that his life was in danger. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the man from Altheim was finally able to free himself while the vehicle completely sank into the river behind him. However, the 62-year-old did not manage to reach the bank on his own and drifted downstream swimming on his back. In the eleven degree cold water, the Innviertler’s strength threatened to dwindle quickly and he called for help – fortunately two walkers heard the screams who immediately alerted the fire brigade, ambulance and police. They also took a 43-year-old fisherman, who took heart and climbed into the icy water, brought the accident victim to shore and was able to rescue them with other first-aiders. The driver of the accident was already hypothermic, but did not want to go to the hospital. Instead, he warmed up in the Red Cross ambulance. In the meantime, around 50 helpers from the fire brigades in Kirchdorf, Obernberg, Reichersberg, Ried/Innkreis and Schärding searched and recovered the car – divers mounted lifting balloons on the wreck under water, with which the “submarine” was lifted back to the surface.
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