Austria is in shock after the suicide of Lisa-Marie Kellermayr, a doctor found dead in her office in the Upper Austria region on Friday July 29.
In a letter, found next to her remains, she justifies her act by psychological and physical exhaustion in the face of the surge of hatred of which she was the victim on social networks.
Known to the general public since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, Lisa-Marie Kellermayr regularly appeared on Austrian television sets to call on the population to be vaccinated.
Her stance in favor of vaccination against Covid-19, which she considered necessary to avoid any serious form of the disease, made her the target of antivax and followers of conspiracy theories, according to
Reuters
.
Read alsoCovid-19: Austria to end compulsory vaccination
SEE ALSO
- Covid-19: Austria abandons its compulsory vaccination policy
Harassment condemned by the authorities
An intense wave of harassment had thus forced her to close her consulting firm “
until further notice
”, relates
TF1 Info
.
"
The working conditions we have experienced in recent months cannot be expected of anyone, she wrote on her website
," reports the French media.
Frightened by death threats, Lisa-Marie Kellermayr had to pay between 8,000 and 10,000 euros to hire agents to ensure her safety.
After the announcement of the death of the doctor, the Austrian authorities reacted strongly.
President Alexander Van der Bellan condemned the facts in a series of tweets and called on his compatriots to reason: "
Let's put an end to these alarmist remarks and these attempts at intimidation.
Hate and intolerance have no place in Austria
”.
He also pointed to people who "
frightened her, threatened her, first on the internet, and then in person, going straight to her office
."
A wave of emotions in the country
Health Minister Johannes Rauch also paid tribute to her on Twitter: “
She has dedicated her life to the health and well-being of others.
Death threats against her and her employee were a brutal reality.
Hate against people is inexcusable.
This hatred must stop
”.
The death of Lisa-Marie Kellermayr has created a wave of emotions in the country, where several vigils will be organized in Vienna and Linz this Monday, August 1.
Read alsoAustria: tens of thousands of demonstrators against the measures taken against Covid-19
The Austrian government announced on June 23 the total abandonment of its compulsory vaccination policy against Covid-19, after having already suspended it in March barely a month after its entry into force.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of the country against this measure.
SEE ALSO
- United States: again positive for Covid-19, Joe Biden assures that "everything is fine"
