A Volgograd resident was struck by a piece of a wooden board that suddenly ripped off a building and knocked into his head as winds whipped through the city. Local residents recall a gusty evening when the incident happened while people were moving along a route that runs from Pushkin Square toward the park on the floodplain of the Tsaritsa River. The structure at the site is commonly described by townsfolk as the so‑called unfinished building, a landmark that has long attracted attention. Eyewitnesses say a plank of plywood was ripped loose by the wind and sent spiraling through the air. It moved swiftly, carried by the gusts, and collided with a passerby who was accompanied by three other people climbing stairs nearby. The impact sent the man sprawling onto the steps, his head bleeding heavily as onlookers froze in shock until emergency crews arrived to help.
Witnesses rang for an ambulance and decided not to move the injured person because there was concern about possible fractures. The mood among the bystanders was tense as the minutes dragged on. One witness described the man as panting and wheezing while they waited for the medics, noting that the injured person still had a pulse. When the medical team reached the scene and began assessing him, a physician conveyed that the patient’s condition appeared serious and that there could be multiple injuries, then handed the situation to a dispatcher to secure urgent transport.
Following the incident, officials with the Volgograd regional health authorities confirmed that an unidentified man in serious condition had been admitted to intensive care. The report from the regional Investigative Committee stated that the facts of the incident had not been formally recorded by department personnel at that time, leaving some questions about the initial documentation. In subsequent disclosures, local authorities indicated that the patient was indeed in a critical state and receiving intensive care, while investigators pursued clarification of the details and the status of medical records related to the event.
According to Land Profi LLC, the company responsible for the construction work at the site, the director told reporters that he was not aware of the accident and suggested that the construction area was closed, implying that nothing should have fallen from there. The assertion raised questions about site security and safety practices, and observers noted that even when a site is deemed closed, debris can still pose risks if proper precautions are not maintained or if wind gusts intensify suddenly. The incident has prompted calls for a review of safety protocols around unfinished structures and areas where construction activity intersects with public spaces.
In a related recall from the region, a separate incident occurred earlier when a tree fell at a playground in Samara, striking a nine-year-old boy. Local authorities and witnesses emphasized the unpredictability of objects and trees falling in public spaces, urging stricter safety checks around both active construction zones and areas with aging infrastructure. The Samara incident serves as a reminder that even everyday outings can be disrupted by unexpected hazards, and it underscores the need for ongoing supervision, rapid emergency access, and clear communication with the public during high‑risk conditions.