A worker at Munich’s Oktoberfest was rushed to hospital Sunday after suffering severe injuries in an accident involving a traditional swinging ship ride, German authorities said.
The accident happened at around 10:15 a.m. on the Oide Wiesn, the historic section of the Oktoberfest grounds.
According to Munich police, emergency crews had to resuscitate the 47 year old worker at the scene before he was transported to hospital. His current condition has not been publicly detailed beyond authorities describing his injuries as extremely serious.
Bavarian broadcaster BR24 reported that preliminary information indicated the worker was apparently struck by one of the moving swings. Police have not yet established exactly how the accident happened, and Munich criminal investigators are examining the circumstances.
The ride was shut down and cordoned off following the accident.
Police stressed that visitors riding the attraction were not in danger at any point. A crisis intervention team was also deployed to assist people who witnessed the incident.
The accident casts a shadow over the final day of Oktoberfest 2026 and comes less than two weeks after another serious incident involving a festival worker.
On September 21, a 52 year old worker was struck at the Hangover freefall tower. He was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries but later died. Investigators said initial evidence suggested he had been in an area where he should not have been when the descending gondola struck him.
Authorities have not announced whether Sunday's accident will trigger broader inspections of other attractions at the festival.
For now, investigators are concentrating on reconstructing what happened at the swinging ship and determining how the worker came into contact with the moving attraction.
