Former German defender Sebastian Hertner died at the age of 34 last Saturday in Montenegro, the victim of a terrible chairlift accident.

A tragic accident. German defender Sebastian Hertner died this Saturday at the age of 34 while on vacation in Montenegro at the Savin Kuk ski resort in the north of the country. The former TSV 1860 Munich player was the victim of a technical malfunction on the chairlift in which he and his wife were riding.

According to initial findings of the investigation, Sebastian Hertner fell 70 meters to his death, ejected after two gondolas of the chairlift collided. His wife was reportedly trapped several meters above the ground, escaping with a broken leg and a head injury. Three other tourists also spent several hours in the air before rescuers arrived.

German football pays tribute to him

Sebastian Hertner made his debut in 2009 with Stuttgart's reserve team, his boyhood club, before joining Schalke 04's reserve team in 2012. He moved to TSV 1860 Munich in 2013, playing in the German second division. He subsequently played for other clubs in the lower divisions of German football.

In a message on its social media, the Stuttgart club "mourns the passing of its former youth player." "For seven years, Sebastian Hertner wore the red-striped jersey and played 65 matches for VfB II in the third division. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones," the Swabian club shared.

"You were much more than just a captain to me," wrote Jan-Philipp Rose, a member of the staff at Teutonia 05, Sebastian Hertner's last club between 2022 and 2024. "You were a friend, a role model, someone who left a lasting impression on all of us. Your sudden passing has deeply shaken us (...) You will forever remain in our hearts."