Crash
A 10-week-old baby sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the Austrian Alps after their baby carriage rolled down a mountain slope around 12.55 p.m. on July 14. According to Austrian police, the incident occurred while the 23-year-old mother was hiking with the baby and the father in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis area of the Tyrolean Alps. The mother stopped to open a gate when the stroller lost control and began to roll down the steep slope. The carriage rolled for about 50 meters (160 feet), before finally overturning several times. The infant was ejected, crashing from the carriage in the wake of the accident.
Fortunately, a mountain rescue team happened to be nearby and rushed to help. They immediately provided the baby first aid and helped the family down the steep mountain slope. The infant was transported to the Zams hospital for emergency treatment and then ultimately airlifted to the University Hospital in Innsbruck, Austria. Hospital spokesperson Johannes Schwamberger stated that the baby suffered injuries but was not in life-threatening condition and was being monitored in the pediatric intensive care unit. Schwamberger also stated that given the severity of the accident, both the child and parents alike were extremely fortunate.
Police are investigating the incident, but have not yet interviewed the parents. The parents, as to be expected, are reportedly in shock according to Austria’s national public broadcaster ORF. Mountainous regions known for being dangerous. About 4,000 to 5,000 mountain hiking-related injuries occur annually, according to The Bridging Institute. While the accident was extremely unfortunate, it can serve to provide a lesson to keep a close eye on loved ones in dangerous mountainous areas.
