Gerolf Heinrichs <> writes:

All Olli told you guys is fact (http://ozreport.com/11.129#0).

I visited Oleg last Saturday, 30th June in Villach hospital and had a short, only 15 minute chat with him, since he is still very weak from the operation.

The accident occurred Monday mid-afternoon. According to Oleg upper winds where already about 30-40kph from the west (forecast was for a cold front pushing through during the afternoon) but lower level winds were still light S-SE. He was on straight glide in the westerly wind band when he hit the shear zone and had a strong dive. We didn’t discuss any more technical details on how it all happened, all Oleg could tell at this point is that the glider broke and he got hit by some structural piece of the frame in his right side belly, around the appendix. He said the pain was so bad he could not throw the chute with his right hand and had to use the left arm instead. After the chute opened everything went smooth again and he had only a very soft impact on the ground.

He didn’t go into details on how he managed to get the helicopter to his place but apparently that part worked out fine and he was in hospital soon after.

Oleg had to be operated Tuesday morning due his internal injuries (no details on what exactly was hurt), but from what I understood it was not the possible failure of internal organs but rather the risk of a septic infection that lead the doctors to operate.

After a few tough days – Oleg hasn’t regularly eaten now for more then a week, is still all hooked up with infusion tubes and such, and said the pain all over his lower body is rather bad – according to the station doctors, he seems in the clear now and on the way up. The doctors assume from he will have to stay in intensive care until the upcoming weekend, and could then be moved to a normal station where he would have to stay another 10 days before he could go back home.

Until the weekend, they don’t want any visiting. Oleg said, he would let me know, when he could stand our ugly mugs again ;-)

There were meanwhile many individual top pilots from all over the world calling me these days, asking whether Oleg would need financial help. I also asked him about that, and his comment was, that he got a certain form of insurance but wasn’t sure how this would work out in the end. I suppose, Aeros will likely have a backup plan for this kind of situation as well, so I would hope Oleg does not have to worry too much about it all.

Austrian hospitals are always giving you the full treatment first and talk about the money later – means, we wouldn’t have to worry that his treatment is harmed by financial considerations.

I’ll keep you informed, when I hear back from Villach

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