Birth in the remote Matter Valley: a miracle in the snow
Having first trained as a bricklayer, Louis Gruber’s calling to help others came a little later on. But his fascination for helicopters took him to Air Zermatt soon after his training was complete. He first spent 18 months working as a task specialist at the heliport before fulfilling his dream to become a flight paramedic. Mid-April saw one of the most unforgettable moments of his time with Air Zermatt, involving a birth under extraordinary conditions.
Snow covered world
The weather was unexpectedly wintry around this time, and Valais was transformed into a snow-covered world. Roads were closed, trains were unable to run and even the mobile networks were down. In this exceptional situation, a new arrival was announced in the Matter Valley. On this day, Louis Gruber – flight paramedic with Air Zermatt and firefighter in St. Niklaus – was to become part of a story that shows what it means to be there for each other in times of need.
Ready to help when needed
Louis Gruber has been a flight paramedic at Air Zermatt for five years. For him, this is much more than a job. “I can’t describe how it feels to help someone in need. It’s the best reward you can possibly be given,” says Gruber. But he knows all to well that not every mission has a happy ending. “Sometimes, we’re too late. Death is also a part of our everyday lives. And in this case what remains is pain, loss and the unavoidable reality of death. These situations leave their mark, but they also remind us how precious life is.”
A new life in the storm
It’s Thursday morning, 17 April 2025. The snow that fell in the night has cut the Matter Valley off from the outside world. Trees have collapsed under the weight of the snow, electricity lines are damaged, and the roads and railways are impassable. The mobile phone network is unreliable, or out of service altogether. And then, in the midst of all this chaos, a mother-to-be in St. Niklaus goes into labor.
At 5.30 a.m. she dials the emergency number 144, but is shocked to find she can’t get through. First responder Nicola Tscherrig is then notified, and the fire service in St. Niklaus is deployed. They inform the midwife Helga Rovina who lives in St. Niklaus. Louis Gruber is also on duty as a firefighter on this morning, and doesn’t hesitate when he receives the emergency call. “I realized immediately that it was serious. A birth is always a special moment, but under these conditions I knew it could be a challenge,” remembers Gruber.
He made his way to the nearby retirement home to collect everything he needed for the birth. “In situations like these, you don’t spend too much time thinking. You just get on with it. Adrenalin and routine take over,” he adds.
Having arrived with the mother-to-be, every minute counts. The midwife is already there, and everyone is calm. “It was an unbelievable moment. The tenseness of the situation, but at the same time this small but unbelievably strong individual making their way into the world,” says Gruber.
The moment finally came at 10.16 a.m., marking the little one’s arrival – and the relief on the faces of everyone involved was clear.
A helicopter flight for mother and baby
The weather improved as the day wore on, and an Air Zermatt helicopter was finally able to take off and transport mother and baby safely to hospital in Visp for a check-up. Both were doing well.
This will definitely be a day to remember for Louis Gruber and everyone else involved. “There are some missions you just never forget. And this was one of them. A little miracle, right in the middle of a snowstorm,” says Gruber. “Sometimes it’s exactly these stories that remind us why we do what we do.”
