Swedish Ladies’ Team Saves Volunteer’s Life In Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The most impressive heroes of the FIS Ladies’ Alpine World Cup speed events in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER), were three Swedish athletes who made headlines earlier in the week for providing critical support during a life-threatening medical emergency at the resort. 

As they rode the gondola to the start for Thursday’s downhill training run, Lisa Hoernblad, Helena Rappaport, and Lin Ivarsson witnessed a 60-year-old race volunteer in distress. The athletes wasted no time in providing life-saving assistance to the man as Hoernblad performed chest compressions with support from Rappaport while Ivarsson phoned for help. 

"It was crazy, we fought to keep him alive, the minutes felt very long,” Hoernblad told Swedish broadcaster SVT. An Austrian team doctor was able to take over at the top station of the gondola, and the volunteer was then transported by helicopter to hospital. 

The hospital later confirmed to reporters that the man had survived the ordeal which was the best possible news for all.