Glacier rescuer receives the Prix Courage 2023
Published: Thursday, Nov 9th 2023, 21:50
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The Prix Courage 2023 goes to Thomas Zumtaugwald. In spring 2022, he rescued a skier from an underground glacier stream. Without Zumtaugwald's help, the 60-year-old would have died. The prize is endowed with 15,000 francs and was awarded on Thursday evening.
Zumtaugwald is a mountain guide from Randa in Valais, according to the media office of the publisher Ringier Axel Springer. The media company publishes the magazine "Beobachter", which awards the prize.
According to reports, the 60-year-old skier fell off-piste into the underground glacier stream. After lying in the water for an hour, the rescue team found him. At this point, the victim was no longer responding to calls and his life was in danger.
Zumtaugwald decided to take a risky action: he abseiled down to the man without diving equipment and under extreme conditions and rescued him. He did this without any special training and relying on the team of helpers.
The winners of the magazine's Prix Courage are selected in a two-stage process. Five nominations were put to the public vote. The seven-member jury, headed by former Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, selected the winner from the three best nominees. This year, the public and the jury were reportedly in agreement.
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