Winners of the 112 awards 2019
Act of Bravery Award
Mamoudou Gassama, France
Rescue of child hanging from balcony
Act of Bravery Award: Mamoudou Gassama, France
In this highly publicised rescue, Mr. Gassama scaled the side of an apartment building to rescue a child hanging from the balcony on the fourth floor. His courage attracted attention worldwide, leading to him being nicknamed the ‘Spiderman’ of Paris.
A Malian native, Gassama was later naturalised by the French President and was accepted to train to be a firefighter in the Pompiers de Paris.
The award was handed by Nicolas Hénin, a former war reporter who was held hostage by ISIS in Syria for 10 months
International Cooperation Award
Ivan Karadzic, Denmark
Representing all international divers involved in Thai Cave Rescue
International Assistance Award: Ivan Karadzic, Denmark
Widely publicised rescue of 12 children and their soccer coach, who were trapped inside a cave in Thailand with the water level rising. A symbolic award to represent over 100 divers who volunteered to join the rescue operation from across the world. Danish diver Ivan Karadzic will collect the award. He worked in a particularly difficult stretch of the cave, about half way along the escape route.
PSAP Achievement Award
Control Room Vest Police District, Norway
For rescue of tourist trapped in glacier
PSAP Achievement Award: Control Room Vest Police District, Norway
Jurgen, a tourist from Canada, was trapped 20 metres down a crevasse in the Folgefonna glacier in Norway. He was completely alone and did not know where he was. He only knows the general area—but this is 200 square km area, which is hostile and dangerous. He called emergency services but was gradually losing phone battery and consciousness. The call taker stayed on the phone and was determined to do everything possible to find him. Using rescue helicopters they managed to narrow down the search area by listening over the phone to the sound getting louder. The team fully committed to Jurgen’s rescue and were able to pull him from the crevasse alive.
A comment from the National Police Directorate, Norway, who nominated Control Room Vest Police for this award:
“The National Police Directorate nominated Western Police District for the 112 Award 2019 in the category “PSAP Achievement Award” because of the extraordinary work in this mission. The operator kept calm and the team worked well, and together they managed to locate the site of the accident and rescue the Canadian tourist. This is a great example of all the important work that is being done in control rooms, and the particular efforts in this rescue operation was crucial to saving the Canadian tourist’s life. The Head of the Public Security department at the National Police Directorate in Norway, Mr. Knut Smedsrud, would like to extend his congratulations to the team from Western Police District.”
Rescue Coordination Award
Thai Navy SEALs, Thailand
For coordination of Thai Cave Rescue of 12 children
Rescue Coordination Award: Thai Navy SEALs
Widely publicised rescue of 12 children and their soccer coach, who were trapped inside a cave in Thailand with the water level rising. The Thai Navy SEALs coordinated tens of thousands of actors involved in the rescue and brought back all of the children to their families alive.
Citizen of the Year Award
Mahmoud Moussa, Greece
For rescue of 73 people during Greek summer fires
Citizen of the Year Award: Mahmoud Moussa, Greece
During the wildfires in the Athens area, Greece in summer 2018, Egyptian fisherman Mahmoud Moussa was out on his boat. He saw the fires on the land and people trying to flee into the water. Instead of moving himself to safety, he used his boat to rescue people from the devastating fires. Thanks to his bravery, he saved 73 people.
Exceptional Call Taker Award
Linda Mari Hammersland
Control Room Vest Police District, Norway
For rescue of tourist trapped in glacier
Exceptional Call Taker Award: Linda Mari Hammersland
Jurgen, a tourist from Canada, was trapped 20 metres down a crevasse in the Folgefonna glacier in Norway. He was completely alone and did not know where he was. He only knows the general area—but this is 200 square km area, which is hostile and dangerous. He called emergency services but was gradually losing phone battery and consciousness. The call taker stayed on the phone and was determined to do everything possible to find him. Using rescue helicopters they managed to narrow down the search area by listening over the phone to the sound getting louder. The team fully committed to Jurgen’s rescue and were able to pull him from the crevasse alive.
Call takers and dispatchers play an integral role in the emergency services chain. A surprise award goes to the call taker who did not give up on Jurgen and who went beyond the norm to ensure his safe rescue.
Team Bravery Award
Moo Pa Soccer Team, Thailand
For solidarity and courage during Thai Cave Rescue
Team Bravery Award: Moo Pa Soccer Team, Thailand
Widely publicised rescue of 12 children and their soccer coach, who were trapped inside a cave in Thailand with the water level rising.
The 12 children were awarded for their courage, perseverance and resilience. During their 13 days in the cave, they did not lose hope that they would be saved.
Remarkable Rescue Award
Notruf Niederösterreich, Austria
For rescuing a crashed paraglider using Advanced Mobile Location (AML)
Remarkable Rescue Award: Notruf Niederösterreich, Austria
Paraglider Andreas Gremmel crashed in a remote, alpine area of Austria. He was injured, could not describe where he was, and his mobile reception was very weak. Emergency services tried to call Andreas back to get more information, but they couldn’t connect. Thankfully, the Notruf emergency control room uses Advanced Mobile Location (AML). AML is a lifesaving technology which uses your smartphone location services to let emergency services know where to find you when you dial the emergency number. The technology needs to be activated on a country per country basis. Thanks to AML, the Notruf team could locate Andreas within a 6 metre radius and the rescue mission could be immediately launched. A helicopter and a Mountain Rescue Service crew were alerted and Andreas was rescued to safety within just 50 minutes.
Tech for Good Award
East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), UK
For the use of app technology to alert bystander first responders about emergencies
Tech for Good Award: East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), UK
For the use of app technology to quickly react to people in need. EMAS uses an app system to alert bystander first reponders of an emergency nearby, so that they can give first aid before the ambulance arrives. At EMAS, the lifesaving nature of this app technology is evident in the story of paramedic Suzie Matthews, who saved 2 people who suffered cardiac arrests in just 2 weeks thanks to the app. One of the people saved was even her neighbour’s son.
Young Hero Award
Lotta Englich, Germany, aged 11
For rescuing a baby in a swimming pool
Young Hero Award:Lotta Englich, Germany, aged 11
Lotta, aged 10, was on holiday in Croatia when she carried out a brave rescue way beyond her years. A baby fell into a swimming pool and Lotta immediately dived into the pool to save the baby. She carried out the perfect rescue, the baby brought to the surface with no water in its lungs.
Political Achievement Award
Dita Charanzová, MEP
For an outstanding contribution to public safety in Europe
Political Achievement Award: Dita Charanzová, MEP
Ms. Charanzová is awarded for her outstanding contribution to improving public safety in Europe. Throughout her political career, she has been dedicated to improving European legislation, including increasing accessibility to 112 for people with disabilities and introducing mandatory Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to find people in emergencies. Ms. Charanzová was the IMCO Rapporteur for opinion on the European Electronic Communications Code which led the EU to reach an agreement on introducing mandatory Reverse 112 systems to warn the public of emergencies using telephone networks. This legislation will change the way emergencies are handled across the EU and greatly improve the safety of citizens in crises.
Social Media Award
Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica de Portugal (INEM)
For using social media to raise awareness of false emergency calls
Social Media Award: Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica de Portugal (INEM)
For the use of social media to spread an important message & drive change in public safety. During the FIFA World Cup 2018, INEM used a photograph of footballer Neymar to create a comparison with false emergency calls (see below). The campaign highlighted the high number of fake calls in Portugal to encourage people to only call emergency services if there is a real emergency.