Awards ceremony 2026

Albin Ukzmaili, Harbin Hasani, Edmir Rrafshi

At an army base in Waldstatt, three soldiers, Edmir Rafshi, Hasani, and Ukzmaili, demonstrated exemplary determination and teamwork. When they discovered an unresponsive woman outside their accommodation, they acted immediately: while alerting emergency services, they jointly initiated resuscitation, taking turns performing chest compressions and rescue breaths for several minutes. Their coordinated and expert approach enabled them to stabilize the patient and restore her independent pulse and breathing before the ambulance arrived. Their level-headed action saved the woman's life and underscores the importance of sound first aid.

Isabella Schmutz

On March 3, 2026, Isabella Schmutz demonstrated extraordinary presence of mind and physical commitment at the Lion Monument in Lucerne. When a tourist collapsed in the middle of a pedestrian crossing, she immediately recognized that he had suffered cardiac arrest and began resuscitation without hesitation. Despite being in considerable pain due to a recent operation, she continued chest compressions and coordinated the rescue efforts with two doctors who happened to be passing by. For over 12 minutes, she fought tirelessly to save the man's life until he began breathing on his own again. Her courageous intervention, expending all her strength, saved the life of the 40-year-old father of a family.

Rolf Trachsel and two more lifesavers

On the evening of July 16, 2025, a mountain guide and his client were caught in a sudden and extreme weather event on the Lagginhorn. Since a direct helicopter approach was impossible due to a violent storm, snow, and fog, eight rescue specialists from Air Zermatt ascended the wet, icy ridge on foot, carrying heavy rescue poles. Under inhumane conditions and on the verge of exhaustion, the rescuers physically transported the severely hypothermic client down the rock face for hours. Only above the Weissmieshütte did a brief weather window allow for the risky helicopter evacuation. When the patient's heart stopped beating during takeoff, with a core body temperature of only 24.2 degrees Celsius, the medical crew immediately initiated successful resuscitation. Thanks to the tireless, ten-hour effort of three crews, both mountaineers survived the icy ordeal.

Nabil Aouni, Maurice Vassbeck, Shahan Asif and Mouad Anouri

On August 9, 2025, Nabil Aouni, Maurice Vabbeck, Shahan Asid, and Mouad Anouvi saved a life on the Aare River. In the strong current after the Uttigen weir, they spotted a man who was on the verge of drowning and had already sunk below the surface. Working together and using their paddles, they pulled the completely exhausted man into their inflatable boat. Since the current made it impossible for the group to reach the shore on their own, they loudly called for help. Thanks to the assistance of two passersby who pulled the boat ashore and alerted the rescue services, everyone involved was safely taken care of. The friends' decisive action prevented a tragedy on the river that day.

Aven Picard

On April 3, 2025, 19-year-old Awen Picard demonstrated exceptional attentiveness and quick reflexes at the Ouchy harbor in Lausanne. From over 100 meters away, he noticed a child fall into the lake on his bicycle. While numerous passersby remained inactive, he immediately ran to the shore and jumped into the icy water without hesitation. He managed to pull the five-year-old boy, who was already completely submerged, from a depth of 1.5 meters and bring him safely ashore. Through his courageous and decisive action, he saved the child from drowning at the last second.

Ahmad Allah

On August 31, 2025, Ahmad Allawah prevented a potential catastrophe on the Aare River in Niedergösgen. A non-swimmer had gotten into difficulty and, in her panic, pulled two young first responders who rushed to her aid under the water. Recognizing the imminent danger to all three, Ahmad Allawah immediately entered the river. With great personal commitment, he managed to bring the victims safely to shore and avert a multiple tragedy. His courageous actions saved three lives that evening.

Manuela Ernst

During her vacation in Mallorca, Manuela Ernst demonstrated exceptional vigilance and expertise. She noticed a non-swimmer being swept far out to sea on an air mattress and, while trying to hold on, was already going under. Since the first responder on the scene was overwhelmed by the situation, Manuela Ernst intervened decisively. Using a professional neck hold, she stabilized the panicked woman and towed her safely back to the beach. Through her calm actions and her subsequent public appeal for water safety, she made a significant contribution to saving lives and preventing accidents.

Zekiye Blum

On February 6, 2026, Zekiye Blum demonstrated extraordinary civic courage on the banks of the Aare River in Zuchwil. With a water temperature of only 5.4 °C, she heard the cries for help of a woman floating in the river. Since no one else intervened, she recognized the imminent danger, reacted quickly, undressed, and swam into the icy water. She managed to reach the already severely hypothermic woman, pull her safely to shore, and provide first aid until paramedics arrived. Thanks to her decisive action, the woman was rescued despite her life-threatening hypothermia.

Till

On the evening of June 19th, an after-work swim in the Rhine near Basel turned into a deadly trap for Jean-Pierre Kress. His swim bag became entangled with one of the large buoys in the deep water, and the strong current trapped his arm, pulling him under. A first responder swimming in the Rhine heard his faint cries for help and, with remarkable presence of mind, swam across the current to the buoy. Shortly afterward, Till, who had been observing the situation from the shore, also swam to help. While he kept the exhausted man afloat and calmed him, the first responder repeatedly dove along the buoy's keel. With considerable effort, he managed to free the blocked rope underwater. Thanks to the courageous and coordinated efforts of the two rescuers, the 58-year-old was freed and able to reach the shore safely.

Meryll Evard, Yanandan Shanmuganathan and Alexandra Brönnimann

On April 2, 2025, three soldiers, Meryll Evard, Yanandan Shanmuganathan, and Alexandra Brönnimann, demonstrated extraordinary civic courage. During their military service, they witnessed a dramatic incident: a man was attempting to push a woman out of a third-floor apartment window. While the soldiers immediately alerted the police and briefly distracted the perpetrator by shouting loudly, the group rushed into the building despite the considerable danger.
Their decisive action in the stairwell forced the attacker to flee, and they were able to bring the seriously injured, shocked woman to safety. Until the paramedics arrived, they administered first aid and provided support. Their courageous intervention prevented a potentially fatal fall and rescued the victim from a brutal situation of violence. The soldiers' actions have already been recognized by the Chief of the Army with the CDA ribbon.

Timea Sigrist

On February 12, 2025, Adj Uof Timea Sigrist demonstrated exceptional civic courage on the A1 motorway near Bern. While others drove past, she secured the accident scene, alerted the emergency services, and attended to the unconscious driver trapped in his vehicle. After extricating him, she immediately began resuscitation efforts and successfully fought for over ten minutes to save the man's life. Her decisive action and her extensive first aid training saved a life that morning.

Paolo Piatesi

On the night of July 14, 2024, Paolo Piatesi and his team averted a potential catastrophe on the A2 motorway near Bellinzona. Despite heavy traffic and the lack of an emergency lane, the officers managed to intercept a wrong-way driver. To prevent a fatal head-on collision with uninvolved motorists, Mr. Piatesi stopped the oncoming car by deliberately crashing his patrol car into it. Thanks to this courageous action, undertaken at great personal risk, all road users, including the wrong-way driver himself, were rescued unharmed.

Urs Lüthi and Stephan Kuhn

On December 10, 2025, Urs Lüthi and Stephan Kuhn rescued an elderly man and his dog from a life-threatening situation in Rüegsau. A vehicle had plunged into a stream and come to rest upside down in the cold water. Without hesitation, both rescuers entered the flowing water to free the driver, who was trapped in the rising current, through the rear door. In a second rescue, they also retrieved the dog, which was stuck in the trunk. Through their swift and selfless actions, they prevented the driver from drowning in his vehicle.

Bruno Studer, Fabian Born, Stefan Christinat and one more Lifesaver

On June 1, 2025, a serious accident occurred at Wankdorf station in which a man was hit by a train and suffered life-threatening injuries. Bruno Studer and one more Lifesaver of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) Police, along with Fabian Born and Stefan Christinat of the Bern Cantonal Police, responded immediately under extremely challenging conditions. Together, they rescued the critically injured man from under the train. While Bruno Studer took the lead in providing emergency medical care and stopped the critical bleeding with tourniquets, his colleagues stabilized the man with pressure bandages and kept him conscious. This exemplary and highly professional teamwork saved the man's life.

Aleksandar Milosevic

On February 3, 2025, Alexander Milosevic demonstrated exemplary decisiveness on the A2 motorway near Quinto. After noticing a crashed vehicle, he secured the scene and immediately administered first aid to the seriously injured and shocked driver. He stopped a heavily bleeding head wound with a pressure bandage, stabilized the injured man, and prevented him from putting himself in further danger. Thanks to his swift and competent intervention, the patient was safely handed over to the emergency services.

Kevin Kieffer, Redon Cacaj

As first responders at the scene of the accident, Kevin Kieffer and Redon Cacaj demonstrated extraordinary commitment through their courageous and expert actions. Even before the fire department arrived, they secured the accident site, freed a trapped driver, and used their own tools to gain access to the overturned postal bus. Using ratchet straps, they rescued the passengers and the bus driver, carrying them down an embankment to safety. Their fearless intervention and immediate first aid prevented a worse outcome under extremely difficult conditions.