“An incredible Bond of Trust”
A Look back with Dr. Axel Mann
During his 38 years as Medical Director at Air Zermatt, Dr. Axel Mann served the helicopter company with his medical expertise and skills. He collected an endless number of thrilling, humorous, and sad stories over the years, and we knew we had to share them with you. Enjoy a look into the amazingly varied day-to-day work of our rescue crew.
We sat down with Dr. Mann one more time to record his most defining experiences. Many of these moments not only changed the trajectory of his career as an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, but also transformed the operations at Air Zermatt.
Axel Mann came to Zermatt for his job interview in 1983. Having only just turned 30, the young man from Freiburg im Breisgau had already completed his specialist doctor’s qualification and was promptly hired after that first meeting with Air Zermatt founder Beat Perren. This was thanks to his previous experience in high-altitude environments as well as the expertise in anesthesia and intensive medicine he had already developed despite his young age.
Dr. Axel Mann takes care of a patient.
Around 35 doctors come to Zermatt and provide their services for three to four weeks each year. The requirements for the job are no cakewalk: “Our emergency doctors have all been sent to Air Zermatt through personal recommendations. In addition to the specialist qualification in anesthesia and intensive medicine and training in high-altitude medicine, the emergency doctors also need to be experienced in helicopter operations: “One can’t risk the doctor having a higher adrenaline level than the patient when taking off into the air.”
Rotating medical Service
Around 35 doctors come to Zermatt and provide their services for three to four weeks each year. The requirements for the job are no cakewalk: “Our emergency doctors have all been sent to Air Zermatt through personal recommendations. In addition to the specialist qualification in anesthesia and intensive medicine and training in high-altitude medicine, the emergency doctors also need to be experienced in helicopter operations: “I can’t risk the doctor having a higher adrenaline level than the patient when we take off into the air.”
Air Zermatt’s pioneering work, extraordinary rescue maneuvers, and wide-ranging missions mean that the company’s reputation often precedes it. “In the last few years of my activities I had my pick of the bunch and was able to form a team of the most professionally competent, specialized, and highly resilient doctors.”
"YOU CAN'T RISK A DOCTOR HAVING THE HIGHER ADRENALINE LEVEL THAN THE PATIENT HIMSELF"
Rightly so, since they have to work well under pressure: “There’s often a lot on the line in our missions. Not only for the patient, but for the whole rescue crew. Rescues from crevasses and mountaintops are quite risky, and you have to remain calm no matter the situation.” From the beginning of his career as an anesthesiologist, this was never a problem for Axel Mann: “Medical emergencies are never too stressful for me. If we’re pushed to our limits, it’s due to the challenging topography or the weather conditions”
Accordingly, it is crucial that the pilots, flight paramedics, and doctors work together like a well-oiled machine. There is no room for tension or misunderstandings in an emergency situation. Axel Mann maintains a special relationship with the pilots: “It’s an incredible bond of trust.”
The outgoing Medical Director established a personal rule: “Never put the pilot under pressure. Even when time is running out and it’s a matter of life or death. Your own safety has to come first at all times.”
