[D] – Spectacular accident on the Neckar: Tractor with baler falls from ferry and drowns in the Neckar - Tractor driver is rescued - Hour-long rescue operation - Several fire departments and DLRG units in action on July 30, 2017 On Sunday, July 30, 2017, at around 3:50 p.m., a 22-year-old driver of a tractor team with a straw baler attached to it wanted to drive onto the ramp of the local ferry in Neckarsteinach on the Hessian side. For reasons that are still unclear, the straw baler attached to the ferry rolled into the water. The driver, tractor and trailer sank in the Neckar, which was about 4 m deep. When the tractor driver noticed this, she left the sinking vehicle. A ferry crew member had the presence of mind to jump into the water and try to save the woman. Both people were then able to get on the ferry, which then took them to the other bank, where medical help was already waiting. Fortunately, both remained apparently unharmed, apart from shock. Countless emergency services from both sides of the Neckar were immediately alerted to the scene of the accident. Numerous fire brigades, rescue services and various DLRG task forces were dispatched. The water police were also alerted. The recovery of the tractor and trailer proved extremely complicated. The vehicle was completely under water and not visible from the water surface. DLRG divers had to be deployed. They attached steel cables to the underwater wreck. The tractor and trailer were then pulled out of the water by a heavy-duty crane. The recovery took hours. The tractor and trailer, which weighed around 12 tons, were recovered by a heavy-duty crane at around 8 p.m. No operating fluids leaked out. The fire brigade had laid out an oil pipe as a precaution. Shipping traffic was stopped at 3:45 p.m. On the instructions of the representative of the Water and Shipping Office for the Eberbach outskirts, shipping between the Hirschhorn and Neckarsteinach locks will remain closed tomorrow, Monday, until further notice. The area around the Neckar is to be checked again in daylight for any other objects in the river. There will be NO FERRY OPERATIONS until this check has been completed. Numerous onlookers came to the scene of the accident in town and were not deterred by the barriers from following the rescue live on site. Forces deployed: Neckargemünd Volunteer Fire Department Neckarsteinach Volunteer Fire Department DLRG Hirschhorn DLRG Neckarsteinach DLRG Neckargemünd DLRG Heppenheim Emergency services Emergency doctor Water police Police Mayor Specialist advisor Rescue company Personal injuries: 2 people in shock -------------------- Use of this material or distribution to third parties is not permitted and will be reported to the police in accordance with Section 1004 of the German Civil Code Einsatz-Report24.de Independent photo and video journalism. Creation of image and video material for print, online and TV media. Website: www.einsatzreport24.de Email contact: [email protected] Now also on Facebook: / einsatzreport24