Man is crushed to death by rollercoaster at Berlin Christmas market
- The victim, who is thought to be a ride attendant, was crushed underneath ride
- Firemen attended at around 7pm local time Saturday and tried to save the man
- It is believed the man had been working on the rollercoaster when he was hit
- The market, on car park in Landsberger Allee in the north east of city, was closed
- It came a day before a child, two, killed by a falling ice sculpture in Luxembourg
A man has died after being struck by a rollercoaster carriage in Germany.
The unnamed victim, who is thought to be a ride attendant, was crushed underneath the ride at a Berlin Christmas market.
Firemen attended at around 7pm local time on Saturday and tried to save the man – but he died.
The unnamed victim, who is thought to be a ride attendant, was crushed underneath the ride at Berlin’s Christmas market (file photo)
It is believed the man had been working on the rollercoaster when he was hit, according to Deutsche Welle.
Four family members who were on the ride at the time had to have counselling after the shocking incident.
Police did not suspect foul play.
The market, which is on a car park in Landsberger Allee in the north east of the city, was closed after the death.
It came the day before a two-year-old was yesterday killed by a falling ice sculpture at Luxembourg city’s Christmas market.
A young child was yesterday killed by a falling ice sculpture (pictured) at Luxembourg city’s Christmas market
The toddler was hit by a shard in the Place Guillaume at around 8pm local time and died in an ambulance.
The tragedy happened just metres from the ice rink at the capital city’s annual Christmas fair which opened on Thursday.
Police said: ‘According to initial evidence, an ice sculpture collapsed and a block of ice unfortunately hit a young child.
‘The child was severely injured and died in the ambulance.’
Witnesses told local media that ambulance staff had tried to revive the child at the scene.
Carlos Veneno told L’essentiel: ‘A child fell and I heard screams.
‘The victim was on the ground about one or two meters from the rink.’
He added police arrived ‘within five minutes, it was very fast, relief also arrived and gave first aid to the child.’
French sculptor Samuel Girault, who has been questioned by Luxembourg police, said: ‘The sculpture couldn’t have just fallen by itself.’
He said he had 19 years experience in carving ice and the base of the fallen work weighed two tonnes.
The child’s family was ‘left in tears’, according to witnesses, and were being helped by a psychological support group.
Witnesses told local media that ambulance staff had tried to revive the child at the scene (pictured, the aftermath)
It is not yet clear why the sculpture fell. Police said: ‘According to initial evidence, an ice sculpture collapsed and a block of ice unfortunately hit a young child. The child was severely injured and died in the ambulance’ (file photo of the Christmas fair)
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on Twitter: ‘I am shocked and distressed after the deadly incident yesterday at the Christmas Market where a small child lost her life.
‘It is not a matter of regret how sad this makes us. My deepest compassion and compassion for the family. XB.’
An investigation has been opened, and on Monday the city – capital of the independent Grand Duchy – said all street markets would be closed for the day.