Franz Lechner prevented a suicidal Eastern Styria from jumping to his death from a 40-meter-high railway bridge. The “Steirerkrone” hits the hero who doesn’t want to be one.
“I am by no means a hero,” says the 56-year-old from Styria modestly. In any case, the whole situation is visibly uncomfortable for him. We also had to persuade him to take a picture. But what Franz “Franky” Lechner did just belongs in front of the curtain, because he saved someone else’s life.
“I screamed for him to come back immediately”
It was September 25, 2021. The owner of the riding school was about to get diesel in Rohrbach an der Lafnitz. “We were on our way to Vienna and while my wife was getting ready, I quickly hit the road again.” On the way, he suddenly sees someone standing on the 40-meter high Zeilbrücke.
“I got out, he looked at me and I yelled that he had to come back immediately,” says the East Styrian. Because the man was already hanging on the outside of the railing and apparently wanted to let go at any moment.
“We talked about his children”
“And then I started talking to him. We talked about his children. And what they have to do without their father. And I also called a lot of names.” He doesn’t want to go into details, Lechner laughs, but there were a few swear words.
“Five times I think he went back and forth. He was totally undecided, even though he was prepared. He parked his car in a parking lot, walked over there and had three more beers.” Probably to encourage themselves.
“I thought it was important that I did something”
Was Franz Lechner never afraid that the East Styrian, who was going through a life crisis, would really jump? “No. When he jumps, he jumps. I can’t change that. It was just important to me that I do something when I drive by and see it. Then when I read the paper someone jumped off – I had cannot reconcile with my conscience.”
Once it was close. Because when the suicidal father heard the police sirens, “he panicked”. Lechner eventually climbed through thorny hedges through the woods to the bridge. “And that at my age it goes up almost vertically. But I just had to go there.”
‘He was really relieved’
Upstairs he received the crying man. “I felt like he was really relieved.” The two then sat in the woods for a while, the man smoked three cigarettes and then went with the rescue team.
And even if Franz Lechner drives past the bridge every two or three days, the case is closed. “It’s well and done.”
If you or a loved one is in a special psychological situation or has suicidal thoughts, please contact the pastoral care by telephone on telephone number 142. Other crisis telephones and emergency numbers can be found HERE.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
