Emergency call from Australia went halfway around the world to Salzburg
Some emergency calls find their way across the globe: like the worried man who landed on the emergency call at the airport in Vienna around 10 p.m. on Monday evening. His father-in-law from Saalbach-Hinterglemm suddenly felt unwell during a phone call and fell off the chair unconscious – i.e. “unconscious” – he described the seriousness of the situation excitedly in English with an Australian accent.
About 14,000 kilometers away as the crow flies, the family found only one emergency number in the rush on the Internet and selected the air ambulance in Vienna. Mission pilot Lukas Danninger was on the emergency phone, immediately assessed the situation correctly and set the rescue chain in motion on site.
There was no language barrier for the experienced rescuer in the situation: “He has already done countless services in rescue control centers and knows what to do,” says Helmut Greiner, spokesman for the flight police. It is also becoming increasingly important to differentiate between harmless spam messages and genuine emergencies. The rush of the moment is also a filter for the right assessment. Those affected are preferably in an exceptional emotional situation.
Help just minutes later on the way
The Australian caller had urgently asked for medical help, so the pilot, who was giving the description from afar, wasted no time. Just three minutes later, the responsible rescue control center in Salzburg was informed. The fire brigade and rescue services were dispatched in the direction of Saalbach.
Another six minutes later, the worried relative from Australia called again. The address in Glemmtal was checked again. Relieved, the caller was able to calm down a little. “He thanked me several times for the quick and professional assistance,” the flight rescuers say.
Affected surprised by “Christmas miracle”
“The person concerned then raised the alarm with us himself. The emergency call via Australia got to us much faster,” says Roberta Thanner, spokeswoman for the Red Cross in Salzburg. The man was very surprised that the rescue service was informed and on the way to him.
First diagnosis: The patient has apparently suffered a circulatory collapse, it is said. The good news so shortly before Christmas: “He opened the door for us himself, was given first aid and taken to the hospital.” The Red Cross wishes him a speedy recovery.
The way of the emergency call was a long one and yet the world had become a village in a certain way, says Helmut Greiner from the flight police. “The emergency call from abroad actually ended up at the ‘wrong place’, but we still managed to get help to the person quickly and easily.”