Air Zermatt carries out numerous missions
Air Zermatt was in constant operation during the sports holiday week from 22 February to 2 March. The high number of visitors to the winter sports resorts led to numerous rescue missions. In total, Air Zermatt helicopters took off on 123 missions to provide rapid medical assistance to injured and sick people. At times, four Air Zermatt helicopters were in operation simultaneously in the Upper Valais.
Most of the missions involved winter sports accidents in which injured skiers had to receive medical treatment as quickly as possible and be flown to the hospitals in Visp or Sion. The Valais Air Rescue crews were also deployed in medical emergencies. In addition, Air Zermatt completed several transfer flights to Lausanne and Bern to transport patients with serious injuries or acute illnesses to university hospitals. The most intensive day was yesterday, Sunday, when Air Zermatt was called out on 22 missions.
Crevasse falls require rapid assistance
Two crevasse rescues on Sunday were particularly challenging: a ski tourer fell around ten metres into a crevasse on the Feejoch, despite being secured by a rope. Air Zermatt immediately flew rescue specialists and technical equipment to the scene of the accident. Fortunately, the ski tourer remained uninjured and was quickly rescued. The second crevasse accident involving a person who was off the marked pistes in Saas-Fee was less serious. Despite the rapid assistance of the rescue specialists and Air Zermatt, all help came too late for her.
Missions not only from the air
In parallel to the air rescues, the Air Zermatt ambulance service also recorded a high frequency of missions. The rescue teams were called out to a total of 60 emergencies, ensuring medical care in the inner Mattertal.