Glacier crevasse rescue -
when every minute counts

“Crevasse rescue – prepare crevasse material!” is the message for the Zermatt heliport when the dispatchers receive a call for a crevasse rescue from the Valais cantonal rescue organization KWRO. A flurry of activity is under way in no time. Speed is of the essence, because in a crevasse rescue, every minute counts. While the task specialists prepare the necessary material at the heliport – including tripod, drills, spare batteries and pick hammer – the dispatch team decides which helicopter will fly to the accident site first.

In crevasse rescues, three to four rescue specialists and the rescue equipment are primarily sent to the site to rescue the person in the crevasse. This is why what is known as a “technical” helicopter is often sent ahead. Once everyone is ready for action, the rescue helicopter takes off for the accident site with a crew consisting of pilot and task specialist, rescue specialists and crevasse material. The role of the task specialist is to load and unload material and people, and to ensure the safety of the helicopter.

The rescue crew with the Bell429 takes off in parallel, and waits on standby near the site until the patient has been rescued. The primary role of the rescue specialists is to locate the patient and perform the rescue. As far as possible, efforts are made to locate the accident site from the helicopter as it approaches. Once the patient has been found, the pilot lands below the crevasse. Before disembarking the rescue specialist checks whether the site is safe – where there is one crevasse, there are usually others in the vicinity.

As soon as the equipment and rescue specialists are in place, the actual rescue begins. The situation on site will dictate how complex the rescue operation will be. If, for example, the patient has fallen far down into the crevasse, or is trapped or buried, additional rescue specialists are called out immediately and flown to the scene with the technical helicopter.

Once the patient has been rescued, the rescue crew takes over and prepares the patient for transport, before the rescue helicopter takes off and heads for the destination hospital.

The rescue specialists at the accident site gather their equipment and are then collected by the technical helicopter and flown back down to the valley, in the final stage of the rescue operation.

Do you love nature and outdoor sport? Protect yourself in an emergency for only CHF 35.00 per year.
With the Air Zermatt membership card, we will cover the remaining costs for you in case of a rescue, if the insurance does not cover them.