On Monday morning, Vienna police officers dressed as superheroes and rappelled down from the roof of the General Hospital (AKH). Batman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman surprised patients at the university’s pediatric clinic. Other heroes—Superman, Thor, Iron Man, and Flash—were also part of the spectacle. They were dropped off on the hospital roof by a police helicopter before descending down the building.
They were accompanied by the Vienna police band. Once on the ground, the superheroes—rope technicians of the Vienna special task force WEGA in their “day jobs,” except for Wonder Woman, who usually works with the state criminal police office—handed out gifts to the children. They then visited young patients who were unable to leave their beds due to illness.
Clinic Head Sees Benefits For Children
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) attended the event. “With this special action, we want to give young patients moments of joy and show them that the police not only ensure safety but also stand for confidence and humanity,” said Vienna’s police president Gerhard Pürstl.
Susanne Greber-Platzer, head of the university’s pediatric clinic, emphasized: “The climbing performances on the children’s hospital in superhero costumes are perceived as superhuman yet achievable. These positive forces can help children accept their illness and cope with their treatment.”
