In a stunning display of bravery and skill, a pararescueman from the U.S. Air Force stepped in to help a severely injured skier in the breathtaking Alps, as reported by Aviano Air Base in Italy.
Emergency Response
On January 17, Senior Airman Sebastian d’Alton, part of the 57th Rescue Squadron, was honing his skills on the ski slopes when he stumbled upon a man in dire straits.
Although he was getting ready for a course on avalanche, skiing, and crevasse rescues, d’Alton had relatively little experience on the slopes.
He spotted the injured skier lying helplessly in the snow, while an Italian couple made efforts to comfort him.
A closer look revealed a severe laceration on the man’s leg, and despite being new to alpine rescue scenarios, d’Alton quickly took the lead.
Drawing from his military training, he executed the primary procedures he had practiced.
First, he assessed the skier’s condition, checking for other injuries, staunching the bleeding, and stabilizing the wound with the limited materials at hand.
Training and Teamwork
D’Alton credited his training with the 57th Rescue Squadron, which laid the groundwork for his quick response.
The various drills he had engaged in transformed into instinctive actions, allowing him to efficiently evaluate the situation.
To stop the blood loss, he fashioned a tourniquet and dressed the injury while waiting for additional support.
Although there was a language gap—the injured man was Austrian and the couple Italian—D’Alton managed to communicate effectively with everyone involved.
Reflecting on this intense experience, d’Alton recognized how easy it is to succumb to panic in critical situations.
Nevertheless, he focused on a systematic response, which helped him stay calm amidst the tension.
Conclusion
Ultimately, ski patrol members arrived to evacuate the injured skier from the mountain.
While D’Alton’s military training was indispensable during this crisis, he chose to downplay his personal heroics, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.
He acknowledged the efforts of the initial bystanders and the ski patrol, noting that their combined efforts were crucial to navigating the emergency.
For him, it was all about applying his training and fulfilling his duty.
Source: Militarytimes