Three patients died in a fire in the Mödling state hospital

2023-05-30 16:55:00

The evidence suggests that, said police spokesman Stefan Loidl in the evening. The fire broke out in a room on the third floor. For three men in the room, any help came too late.

The investigators would assume a cigarette, said Loidl. “No technical fire development was found”. The smoldering fire should have emanated from the bed of a 75-year-old from Baden. The man was a heavy smoker. The window in the room was tilted for ventilation.

“A Hard Day”

According to the police, a 78-year-old from the Mödling district and an 81-year-old from the Bruck ad Leitha district died in addition to the 75-year-old. The men were hospitalized in a four-bed room. Another patient accommodated there was not in the room at the time of the fire. “He’s doing well,” informed Claudia Herbst, Medical Director of the Baden-Mödling State Hospital, in a press conference. It was “a difficult day,” she said in connection with the fire event.

20 people were evacuated, one woman was slightly injured. Around 90 patients had to be transferred.

An alarm was triggered shortly before 1:00 a.m., and a broadcast by the LGA reported that the fire was “rapidly developing”. The entire internal medicine ward was filled with smoke. Ten fire brigades with 173 members and 33 vehicles were deployed, and the state hospital’s company fire brigade was also involved in the extinguishing work. “Brand aus” was given just before 3 a.m.

“Superhuman achievement”

At the press conference, Werner Hauser, commander of the FF Mödling, identified a “very dangerous” as well as “stressful situation that was mastered perfectly”. Among other things, 20 breathing apparatus carrier squads were provided. Hauser attested to the staff that they had “achieved superhuman things”. The same was said by Deputy Medical Director Anette Severing, who rushed to the scene of the fire that night.

“Thanks to the good cooperation, it was possible to save 20 people from the affected station,” said Matthias Hofer, spokesman for the State Health Agency (LGA). These were exposed to the smoke and were initially thought to have been slightly injured. Ultimately, mild smoke inhalation was found in one patient. The woman was taken to the clinic in Baden, announced Herbst. Not only nurses and fire brigade helped, but also patients among themselves, she added.

According to Hofer, around 90 patients were transferred – within the building and to the locations in Baden, Wiener Neustadt and Neunkirchen. The fire alarms would have struck “in the second”. Herbst specified in the press conference that 58 people had been transferred: 31 to Baden, 27 to Wiener Neustadt and Neunkirchen.

Photo gallery: Three patients died in the Mödling clinic

After fire: three dead patients in Mödling (Photo: MATHIAS SEYFERT (PRESS OFFICE BFK M…DLING)) Bild 1/19

view gallery

The fire on the third floor ultimately also affected two wards below. The same applied to the five operating theaters on the first floor. On Tuesday (today) there will be no operating theaters in Mödling, Hofer said. Efforts are being made to make the operating theaters usable again as quickly as possible. The medical director named a period of 24 to 48 hours during which parts of the affected wards should be reopened.

The Mödling district fire brigade command reported a high fire intensity in the affected room, including smoke development. “Many patients were directly endangered by this,” it said in a broadcast. Parallel to the rescue of people, the flames were fought by means of internal and external attacks.

The aisle area in the affected station had already been filled with smoke when the first helpers arrived, said Markus Groll, head of the clinic’s fire brigade. Because of the spread of the smoke gases, the second floor also had to be evacuated.

Four crisis intervention teams deployed

There was also a large contingent from the Red Cross and the Samaritans. A total of 20 rescue vehicles and five emergency doctor vehicles were deployed. Two district operations managers moved out as well as an emergency doctor helicopter. The Red Cross provided four crisis intervention teams and a total of 86 helpers, said Josef Schmoll, President of the Lower Austria Red Cross.

The affected station has been blocked. The cause of the fire was initially unknown, investigations were underway at noon. Konrad Kogler, head of the LGA, described finding the cause at the press conference as important, one wanted to be able to “react in the best possible way”. “Today is a day of mourning for us,” emphasized Kogler, referring to the general events.

“An incredible tragedy”

“The events of last night are shocking. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” emphasized Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and the state councilor responsible for the clinics, Ludwig Schleritzko (both ÖVP) in a written statement. “Now it’s a matter of fully clarifying the course of the accident. We would like to thank all the emergency services and the employees at the LK Mödling, who were immediately on hand to help.”

Mödling Mayor Hans Stefan Hintner (ÖVP) also reacted to the incident. “Our heartfelt condolences go to all the relatives of the victims of this incredible tragedy. A big thank you to the many women and men from the rescue and fire departments who, with their efforts, prevented the flames from spreading and possibly further fatalities,” said an official statement on the municipality’s website.