On 17 March, the Vienna fire brigade was called to a serious accident at a construction site in the city’s 9^th district. During concrete works, sections of scaffolding, including the formwork, collapsed. One worker was seriously injured and several others were believed to be trapped under the rubble.

The affected courtyard was covered in fresh concrete, some of which was still liquid, as well as debris from the structure and exposed steel reinforcements. The situation was complex, and the unstable ground made access difficult for the emergency teams.

Search and rescue dogs from our member organisation, Feuerwehr Wien Rettungshunde, were deployed to assist with the operation. They systematically searched areas that were difficult or impossible for humans to reach.

One of these dogs was Arvi, a Parson Russell Terrier. Focused and agile, he moved across the unstable terrain, working his way into confined spaces and carefully checking each section.

Search and rescue dog teams play a vital role in situations like this. They complement technical rescue efforts when equipment reaches its limits and help to establish a clear picture quickly.

Despite the intensive search and the immediate measures taken, four construction workers could not be saved.

Once the search was complete, the dogs were cleaned on site to remove concrete residue and dirt from their paws and coats.

Operations like this highlight the demanding nature of the work and the importance of having search and rescue dog teams ready to respond at any time.

To ensure that we can continue to provide rapid assistance in the future, we need your support. Your donation helps us to maintain the operational readiness of our search and rescue dogs.