German Former Professional Footballer Dies In Tragic Chairlift Accident At Montenegro Ski Resort

A winter holiday turned into a tragedy on Saturday afternoon when a 34-year-old German tourist fell to his death following a horrific mechanical failure on a chairlift at the Savin Kuk ski resort. German football player Sebastian Hertner fell to his death in front of his partner from a chair lift in Montenegro on Saturday.

The incident, which occurred on the steep second section of the Savin Kuk cable car in the Durmitor Mountains, has sparked a major investigation and sharp criticism of the region’s aging tourism infrastructure.

At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, a chair carrying two German vacationers reportedly began to slide backward down the steel cable. According to preliminary reports from the scene, the "basket" collided with another chair behind it.

The sportsman played professionally in his home country as a defender. He joined different clubs across his career, including 1860 Munich, Erzgebirge Aue and Darmstadt. Mr Hertner was also the captain of ETSV Hamburg in the Oberliga, Germany's fifth tier.

On Instagram, his club wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce today that our captain Sebastian Hertner has died in a tragic accident while on holiday. We are stunned and incredibly sad. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Sebastian.”

His wife, Hanah Espandschied, 30, who was riding in the same chair, witnessed the fall. While she managed to stay on the lift, she suffered serious injuries, including a broken leg. She remained trapped high above the ground for several hours before rescue teams could safely bring her down and transport her to a local hospital.

The accident forced an immediate shutdown of the lift system, leaving at least three other foreign tourists suspended in the freezing cold for over four hours. Mountain rescue services (GSS Montenegro) successfully evacuated the remaining passengers by 5:00 p.m.

The mayor of Žabljak, Rados Zugic, expressed deep condolences to the family, stating that the town is "deeply shaken" by the loss.

"We insist on a comprehensive and transparent investigation to determine who is responsible," Zugic told local media. "The safety of our guests is essential, and there are no circumstances that can justify the loss of human life."

The State Prosecutor's Office has ordered a full expert examination of the cable car mechanism, focusing on:

• The cause of the basket slippage: Why the grip on the steel cable failed.
• Maintenance records: The Durmitor Tourist Center claims the lift had all necessary technical documentation and had undergone regular inspections before the winter season began.
• Infrastructure Neglect: Critics and local officials have pointed to a long-standing lack of investment in the Savin Kuk resort. Opposition politicians have criticized the government for a "decades-long failure" to modernize facilities that date back many years.

Eyewitnesses described the chair sliding uncontrollably and then colliding with another chair, which in some accounts led to passengers being catapulted from their seats. Resort officials and local leaders have expressed condolences and said they are cooperating with investigators; the mayor of Žabljak confirmed the nationality of the victims and the timeline of events on local television

Local authorities have launched a formal investigation into the tragedy. Police in Žabljak collected statements from multiple individuals, including those responsible for and employed at the ski center, while relevant documentation has been seized. The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Pljevlja has opened a case, and a mechanical engineering expert has been assigned to examine the lift to determine what caused the malfunction.

The investigating public prosecutor ordered the chairlift to be stopped immediately after the accident blue News. The mayor of Žabljak, Rados Zugic, confirmed the incident to Montenegrin media outlets.

The Savin Kuk ski center is located near the town of Žabljak in the Durmitor Mountains, a popular winter sports destination in Montenegro's north. The resort features multiple lifts serving terrain on Mount Durmitor, which rises to over 2,000 meters elevation.
The incident adds to growing concerns about chairlift safety after several high-profile lift accidents at North American resorts earlier this month, though each incident involved different mechanical circumstances.