A former Bundesliga footballer has died after crashing into a deer while out cycling.
Reiner Wirsching, 63, was not wearing a helmet when the freak accident happened on Thursday (9 April) night.
The ex-striker was riding along a bike path near Bad Kissingen, Germany, when he collided with the animal and was thrown from his bicycle.
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A passing driver found him lying beside the road and immediately called emergency services.
Paramedics rushed to the scene on federal road 286 between Poppenroth and Bad Kissingen, giving first aid before taking him to hospital.
But despite their efforts, Wirsching tragically died from his injuries on Saturday (11 April), as reported by Need To Know.
It is believed the impact caused him to fall onto his head.
His brother Dieter revealed he suffered a severe skull base fracture with heavy bleeding – leaving almost no chance of survival.
Tributes have poured in for the former forward, who made 72 Bundesliga appearances for 1. FC Nuremberg between 1989 and 1992, scoring 14 goals.
The club said: “Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences go out to all his loved ones.”
Wirsching began his career at SV Stammheim before moving to Schweinfurt 05 in 1988, making his professional debut at the age of 25.
He later played for TSV Vestenbergsgreuth, SC Weismain and FV 04 Würzburg before retiring in 2001.
After hanging up his boots, he briefly managed FV 04 Würzburg.
Alongside football, Wirsching also pursued a career in medicine, graduating from the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1996.
His thesis was titled “Results after surgical treatment of acute fibular ligament rupture of the upper ankle joint”.
He went on to work in orthopaedics, trauma surgery and sports medicine, later becoming club doctor at Schweinfurt 05 in 2013 – a role he held until 2019, according to Transfermarkt.
More recently, he had been working with TSV Bad Königshofen in the table tennis Bundesliga.
Politician Stefan Günther paid tribute, writing: “Reiner Wirsching once greeted me in his clinic with the words, ‘I can’t get you back to 100%, but we’ll get you to 98%.’
“He then operated on my ACL tear and, thanks to that, gave me many more good years in football.
“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.”
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