Rescue services across Sweden are honouring a firefighter in his 30s, who died after falling from a turntable ladder during a training exercise in Växjö on Sunday, with flags at half-mast and moments of silence. Police continue investigating the workplace accident.
The firefighter fell more than three metres from a turntable ladder (also reported as a ladder truck or at a hose tower) at Värends räddningstjänst in Växjö municipality on Sunday evening and succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Grief is overwhelming at the fire station, described by rescue chief Roger Petersson as 'like a family.' He called the colleague knowledgeable, cheerful and well-liked, telling SVT Nyheter Småland: "It is extremely difficult to put words to this." To P4 Kronoberg, he added: "The staff are not doing well." Crisis support is in place, with extra staff called in overnight.
Nationwide, rescue services have raised flags to half-mast and held moments of silence. "We send our deepest condolences," wrote Räddningstjänsten väst. Räddningstjänsten Landskrona is "deeply affected" and extended thoughts to relatives and colleagues. A moment of silence was observed at Växjö station on Monday.
Police, the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the rescue service are investigating to determine what occurred. No suspicion of crime.
