Eight-year-old girl falls from third floor in Vienna-Floridsdorf

After receiving emergency medical first aid at the scene of the accident, the girl was taken to a hospital. No official information on the nature of the injuries or the child's further condition was available by Thursday evening. The Vienna professional rescue service spoke of an ongoing operation.

Unclear circumstances

The circumstances that led to the fall are still under investigation. Neither the police nor the professional rescue service provided information on Thursday as to whether the girl had been alone on a windowsill or balcony or whether an imbalance was the cause. Possible indications of third-party involvement were also not publicly commented on initially.

The case drew several media reactions in the evening hours. Local media reported on emergency calls that eyewitnesses had placed around 4:50 p.m. The Floridsdorf district, with around 170,000 inhabitants, is one of Vienna's most populous districts.

Reactions from the district

Child safety experts generally point out that falls from great heights are among the most severe causes of accidents in childhood. Windows and balcones in households with small children should accordingly be secured with suitable protective devices. More specific information on the structural situation at the scene of the accident was not available on Thursday.

The Vienna professional rescue service and the police announced that they would continue to investigate the incident. Should the suspicion of a criminally relevant event be substantiated, the public prosecutor's office would be informed, according to circles of the emergency services. By evening, however, there had been no arrest or formal charge.

Both the City of Vienna and the Floridsdorf district office expressed their concern. A city spokeswoman spoke of a tragic incident and thanked the emergency services for their rapid assistance. Families depend on rapid medical and psychosocial support in such situations.

After initial stabilization in the hospital, the girl will continue to receive medical care, the professional rescue service explained. The attending physicians provided no information on the child's condition. The parents were also given psychological support according to the emergency services.