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Merz in DRF H145 Winterberg

Winterberg, Germany - DRF Air Rescue hosted a special guest today during a joint winch training exercise with the Winterberg Mountain Rescue Service and the high-altitude rescue team of the Dortmund Fire Department. Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited both organizations this morning to gain first-hand insight into their ongoing rescue training operations.

Video by faz, published September 6, 2025, shows Chancellor Friedrich Merz has presented a National Security Council at the Chancellery. The goal is to improve coordination in internal and external security, as well as disaster and civil protection.



Immediately upon arrival, the Chancellor participated in one of the training sessions. This included an initial reconnaissance flight over the area, followed by a second flight, during which he observed a winch rescue demonstration. With a cable length of 90 meters, the winch enables emergency medical teams to provide care and rescue seriously ill or injured patients even in challenging or inaccessible terrain.

"During today's winch training, we once again highlighted the versatility and importance of aerial emergency rescue," said Dr. Krystian Pracz, CEO of DRF Air Rescue. "For over 25 years, DRF Air Rescue has been working closely with mountain rescue teams and high-altitude fire department units to ensure the best possible care for patients through regular, highly coordinated training."

Focused Exchange on Emergency Rescue Services

Following the training, Friedrich Merz engaged in a detailed discussion with representatives of DRF Air Rescue and the Mountain Rescue Team of the German Red Cross (DRK). Topics included the challenges faced by air rescue teams and emergency services, the current structure and financing of emergency rescue, and the cooperation between various organizations involved in rescue operations.

A key point raised concerned the legal equality of volunteers. Dr. Lischke, a member of the DRK's National Mountain Rescue Board, emphasized: "Our goal is to ensure that volunteers in organizations like the DRK - including mountain rescue teams - receive the same legal treatment as their counterparts in volunteer fire services and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief."

Participants also discussed the ongoing reforms to emergency services legislation at both federal and state levels in North Rhine-Westphalia. There was consensus that, in addition to ground-based and air rescue services, specialized rescue operations such as mountain and water rescue deserve greater recognition and structural support. "Our mountain rescue teams provide care to everyone in need, regardless of the effort involved. This essential service must also be reflected in the cost structure," said Dr. Fritz Baur, President of the DRK Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association.

Strengthening the Future of Emergency Services

Dr. Krystian Pracz highlighted the growing importance of air rescue in light of changes in the hospital landscape: "Emergency services, particularly air rescue, will become increasingly vital in the future. The integration of emergency medical services and pre-hospital care into the Social Code (SGB) V is crucial to sustainably improving emergency medical care across Germany. We also need to enable broader use of modern technologies, such as night flight and instrument flight procedures, for which we are already prepared. Now, the legislative framework must follow."

Chancellor Merz expressed his appreciation for the work of the air rescuers and their partners: "I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to take part in today's winch training and to witness first-hand the outstanding professionalism, coordination, and equipment of DRF Air Rescue. The topic of emergency aid is also being actively discussed at the federal level: just last week, we decided to establish a National Security Council. This body will address all civil protection issues and ensure comprehensive preparation, coordination, and response measures in the event of disasters, with the close involvement of federal states and aid organizations. My thanks go especially to the many volunteers whose dedication sets a benchmark for emergency rescue in Germany."

Appeared:08.09.2025

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