AUVA “Back to Life” Award goes to Rudolf Hajek from Lower Austria

Accidents change life suddenly. Like that of Rudolf Hajek, who was seriously injured while playing sports at school. In gym class, he tried to do a somersault, which changed his life forever. For his sporting commitment and his exemplary rehabilitation, he was awarded the AUVA “Back to Life” Award at a ceremony in the Lower Austrian Landhaus in December 2024.

“I am pleased to be able to honor Rudolf Hajek with the “Back to Life” award, a man who has found his way back to life in such an impressive way after his successful rehabilitation phase,” says Commander Peter EngelbrechtsmüllerChairman of the AUVA regional office for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland.

“As AUVA, we provide those affected with the best possible support to reintegrate into work and daily life. Because the job in particular is an important source of mental and social health,” adds AUVA regional office director Reinhard Minixhofer.

The Lower Austria Chamber of Commerce presented you. Johannes Schedlbauer A goods voucher worth EUR 1,000 was also handed over to AK-NÖ Dir.-Deputy. Christian Farthofer a voucher for a two-week stay at the Parkhotel Hirschwang.

State Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister emphasized on the occasion of the award ceremony in the country house: “After a long and intensive rehabilitation phase, Mr. Hajek found his way back to life and never gave up, which earns me personally just as much respect as his numerous sporting successes in national and international competitions.”

A sports accident changed life suddenly

Rudolf Hajek took part in a vocational school course as an apprentice in his third year. While doing a somersault in gymnastics class, he had an unfortunate fall and suffered serious injuries that resulted in a fractured cervical vertebra and paralysis. After a long hospital and rehabilitation stay, he retrained as an office clerk. During rehab, Mr. Hajek discovered wheelchair table tennis, where he was later able to win numerous victories in national and international competitions, including European and World Championships. He later also worked as a trainer for wheelchair table tennis at the Weißer Hof rehabilitation center. A heart attack in 2021 took a serious toll on Mr. Hajek’s health and it took a long time for him to recover. His wife has always been a support to him throughout the years.

According to Mr. Hajek, the “Back to Life” award is intended to encourage all those people who are hit by fate in a similar way to himself. “I can only advise anyone who has had a serious accident to do something with their life”says Hajek.