The captain of ETSV Hamburg, Sebastian Hertner, died after falling from a ski lift chair in northern Montenegro. The tragic accident has shocked German football.
According to the Argentine agency Noticias Argentinas, the incident occurred around 1:00 PM at the Savin Kuk complex, located in the mountainous Durmitor region. A double chairlift detached from the main cable and fell from an estimated height of 70 meters.
Hertner was on vacation with his wife at the time of the accident. His 30-year-old wife witnessed the entire sequence of events. She survived the accident but was injured, suffering a leg fracture, and was transported to a regional medical center. Emergency services managed to rescue her.
Montenegrin authorities have placed the infrastructure under review, as it is a key system for the region's tourism. Due to the severity of the incident, local authorities demanded a thorough investigation to determine responsibilities related to the lift's maintenance.
ETSV Hamburg, the club Hertner captained in the Oberliga, expressed its grief through an official statement. "We are deeply saddened. We have lost not only our captain and a great footballer, but above all an exceptional human being. With deep sadness, we announce that our captain, Sebastian Hertner, died in a tragic accident during his vacation." "We are shocked and deeply saddened," the institution stated. "Our thoughts are with his family and his wife at this unimaginable time."
Sebastian Hertner was a leading figure in German regional football, recognized for his leadership and commitment. He started in the youth divisions of VfB Stuttgart and represented Germany in the U-18 and U-19 national teams. Throughout his career, he played for historic clubs such as 1860 Munich, Erzgebirge Aue (with whom he achieved promotion to the second division), and Darmstadt 98.
