Serbian Guard, 52, Killed by Gondola at Munich Oktoberfest

A 52-year-old Serbian citizen working as a security guard died at Oktoberfest in Munich. The accident happened on Monday, September 21, just before 10 p.m., at the free-fall tower, one of the beer festival’s signature attractions. German police released the details on Tuesday.

Outlets differ on the ride’s name. Telegraf and B92 report it as “Hangover,” while Tanjug uses the Serbian translation, “Mamurluk.” It is the same ride either way, about 80 meters tall, where a gondola carrying passengers shoots upward at high speed before plunging back toward the ground.

According to police, the man suffered life-threatening injuries when the gondola, descending at high speed, struck and pinned him. He was resuscitated at the scene, then taken to a hospital in Munich, where he died from his injuries.

What the early checks show

Preliminary findings suggest the security guard was, at the time of the accident, in a spot where the ride’s operating rules did not allow him to be. Police say they do not yet have a final answer on how exactly the accident happened, or why the man was there.

The passengers riding the gondola at the time were not hurt. Police said they were never in danger, even though they were on the ride itself when the accident occurred.

Police immediately secured the area around the attraction. A crisis response team supported witnesses, while celebrations continued elsewhere at the festival. Criminal investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and looking for witnesses. Police have asked anyone who was near the tower on Monday evening, and has photos or video of the accident, to come forward.

Third incident since the festival began

The fatal accident is not the first problem at Oktoberfest’s rides this season. The festival opened on Saturday, two days before the security guard died.

• On the Predator ride, which flips passengers upside down, a sensor halted the system on opening day. Riders were left stuck upside down for between two and five minutes. The sensor was replaced, an expert inspected the ride, and no fault was found, so the attraction was running again that same evening.
• On the XXL Racer, also on Saturday, eight passengers were stopped at a height of about 55 meters. According to the festival’s press office, the cause was a signal malfunction. None of the passengers were injured.

Neither of the two earlier incidents left anyone hurt.