After the desperate act of a 55-year-old, a family of seven from the Mostviertel (Lower Austria) was left with nothing. A pre-Christmas relief campaign is now aimed at enabling people to move back into their homes.
When the fire alarm went off in Haag in the Amstetten district at 10:57 PM on March 2 this year, no one suspected that a major family tragedy had occurred. The 55-year-old father set the house on fire and then threw himself in front of the train on the Western Railway. It was an act of desperation by the self-employed master glazier, who had gone bankrupt a few months earlier.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Kienel, and six children, ages 6 to 16. They not only lost their husband and father, but also their house, which was made uninhabitable by the devastating fire.
Friends help
But fortunately, the extended family is not alone. Friends such as insurance advisor Ernst Mayrhofer started a major relief campaign. A rental apartment from ÖBB was organized for the Kienels until mid-2024 and renovation of the house began at the same time. Due to the ownership situation, the insurance company paid at least 50 percent of the damage.
150,000 euros are missing
But according to Mayrhofer you need 150,000 euros to live there. Money that the family doesn’t have. Because the father has had no income for the past two years, there is no widow’s pension. As a kindergarten teacher, Kienel tried to keep the family afloat financially – an almost hopeless endeavor. As if that weren’t enough, the residents of The Hague are also plagued by health problems. The family’s eldest son suffered a head aneurysm and still complains of paralysis.
But there are also bright spots. The roofing ceremony has already been celebrated and many companies are offering their help. “We just ordered the windows,” said Mayrhofer, who has opened a donation account for the family. It goes without saying that he helps: “I can’t just talk about charity and go to church. “You have to act,” he says to the “Krone”.
Spendingkonto Sarah Kienel: AT66 1500 0002 5114 9092
If you or a person around you is in an exceptional psychological situation or suffers from suicidal thoughts, you can contact the pastoral telephone number 142. Other crisis hotlines and emergency numbers can be found HERE.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
