Oktoberfest security guard is crushed to death by free-falling 250ft 'Hangover' fairground ride in Munich

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:31 EDT, 22 September 2026 | Updated: 05:37 EDT, 22 September 2026 A security guard at Oktoberfest in Munich has died after a free-falling fairground ride crushed him. The tragic accident at the world-famous beer festival occurred at around 10pm on Monday, when the 'Hangover' free-fall tower, which stands at around 250ft tall, struck and crushed the 52-year-old security guard. According to German news outlet Bild, the man, a Serbian national, was standing in an area where he wasn't supposed to be when the attraction swung downwards, hitting him. No other staff members or visitors were injured. Police cordoned off the area as they launched an investigation into the incident and are urging anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward. Munich's mayor Dominik Krause offered his condolences to the security guard. 'My thoughts are with the family of the deceased man and the employees of the amusement ride. I thank the emergency services for their quick intervention,' he said.Munich's Oktoberfest kicked off on Saturday with Krause tapping the first keg of beer and opening the 191st edition of the world's largest folk festival. Police officers are pictured at the site of the 'Hangover' free-fall tower at Oktoberfest following the fatal accident involving a security guard The man who died has been identified as a 52-year-old secuirty guard from Serbia Picture shows the scene where Oktoberfest employee was crushed to death by ride in MunichThousands of revellers — the women dressed in Bavarian dirndls, the men in lederhosen — stormed the beer tents on Munich's Theresienwiese fairground in the morning to get a good spot on the benches. To the sounds of brass music and the taste of freshly tapped beer, they soon started singing, dancing and swaying.Besides beer, pretzels, pork roast and sausages were also sought-after delicacies.Over the course of 16 days, through October 4, some six million visitors are expected at the Oktoberfest. The majority of them come from Munich and southern Germany. However, millions of guests also travel from other parts of Germany and from around the world.German authorities tightened security measures, after the festival last year had to close temporarily due to overcrowding. AI-powered cameras were installed for this year's fest to detect large crowds early on, the German news agency dpa reported.A ban on knives and flying objects — especially drones — was also in effect. There are entry checks, large bags are prohibited — and smoking marijuana is not allowed. About 600 police officers are on duty around the festival in addition to Bavarian riot police, specialized pickpocket investigators, and international task forces from eight countries, dpa reported.