Snapped chain seriously injures excavator operator in Liezen

A 45-year-old excavator operator was seriously injured when a chain snapped during loading work in Liezen on Monday afternoon, ORF Steiermark reported. He was flown to a hospital in Graz.

The man and a colleague were trying to pull a wheel loader onto a transport device using two excavators positioned side by side. The chain, which was being used to move the wheel loader, broke through the excavator cab’s window and struck the operator.

The colleague called emergency services and initially took the injured man to the Rottenmann-Bad Aussee hospital. Because of the severity of his injuries, he was then flown by rescue helicopter to the Graz hospital. The labour inspectorate was informed.