Alpine Rescue - Episode 1 - Angels of Mont Blanc

A hair-raising 6 part adventure series set in the alpine resort of Chamonix, located at the heart of the French Alps. Following the Mountain Rescue Team (PGHM) as they rescue climbers and skiers from the Mount Blanc Region above the town.
The area is the climbing mecca of the world and its rescue team the busiest and the most respected. The terrain is extreme and virtually every rescue involves helicopter winching, often from sheer cliffs and ice faces.
Filmed during the peak climbing season in summer, the team risk their lives to save others in this beautiful but dangerous environment. A must watch for anyone interested in the tallest mountains in Europe or understanding the work performed by the world's premier mountain rescue service.
This 2001 documentary was produced by Pioneer Productions for Channel 5.
Pioneer Productions has strong links with the rescue team and is experienced at filming under extreme conditions. The specialist trauma unit at the Chamonix hospital, which is constantly under threat of closure, deals with anything from broken necks and backs to hypothermia and frostbite.

[@mkelebay]

"5:35" "You're a great man, a strong man" "I WAS a strong man..." Found this fucking hilarious, followed by the doctor slapping the guy in the face to wake up.

[@MtNikota]

The doctor, Jerome, died in 2012 in a big avalanche.. RIP dear doctor.. you saved many lives...

[@paulhoulden]

No way? was this the avalance on Mont Maudit?

[@Zirmbergalm_Ruhpolding]

oBaboonMano no it was in Norway sadly. 5 people were killed skitouring

[@paulhoulden]

@@Zirmbergalm_Ruhpolding :( so sad

[@TheDrLivingstone]

The machines, equipments and procedures for the rescue teams have changed a lot. The EC145 twin turbine with its great capacity is now on duty everywhere in France. Individuals protections have made progresses...

[@mortalclown3812]

I think courage has remained the same: peak.

[@koenvo6519]

Funny, in the part with Justin, I can see a pink sling where they put their karabiners in (e.g. 7:44). I removed it from that exact spot in the mountain in 2004 because of the bad state. I still have it at home....

[@LittleChena]

+Koen VO Wow.. thats great! Small world.

[@bo2web]

Quite old documentary because of the helicopters. The rescue (PGHM) is now equiped with Eurocopter EC145

[@lindarodriguez1372]

that's a hell of a fkn ride for the patient

[@i.p.knightly149]

1500 calls in a season, geez. Does anybody make it up and down without calling a helicopter?

[@netfischer]

"aaaahhhhgraaaaaaa aahhh" *slap* *slap* (sweet french accent) "justin?" "graaaaaahaaaaaa stopp AAHHHH" *slap* *slap* "justin?" feel sorry for the guy but couldnt help but find that funny

[@margo6976]

I agree! 🤣I guess up there what else can you do to your patient but slap them into consciousness

[@leeryan1969]

Amazing people those rescuers, risking their own lives to save others

[@oberonkingdwarf2974]

Interesting docu, very educational! To-day they improved the evac protocol, horizontal transport victem and (!) rescuer together. Where is climming gear of the doctor? (helmet, crampons, ice axe )

[@ahastar1141]

Man if I was that climber, i'd be buying my buddy beers for the rest of his life

[@lenoir2851]

This show is nice but pretty old. At least 15 years old. The equipments going from clothes, medical ustensils, helicopters now are all much more developed and efficient.

[@Shadowofthesoldier]

from Alouettes to Eurocopter 145

[@cyvynyvytv]

I know I’m 7 years late but the show is from 2001

[@LA_Viking]

Strange how small details “jump out” at you. When the doctor was preparing the injection, I noted he was using what is called an “eccentric” Luer syringe. In four decades plus in public safety I’ve never seen one actually used. In fact, I’ve never even seen one in a med bag.

[@wildandbarefoot]

6000 people killed on montBlanc... 290 killed on Everest... I wish the cameras would follow through to the bad news being given to the Families of victims. Then maybe something can be done to licence climbs, mitigate avalanche, map routes through crevasse, and ensure climbers have enough to last 24 hours on the mountain in any weather, and observe weather reports. If you disagree, YOU get to tell the families...

[@venom663]

bikerjon1 if you had as many people attempt Everest as you do mt blonc then you would see a higher number of deaths on Everest than mt blonc.

[@fernandog.aguirre2791]

High mountains and these weather conditions are no joking, same situation in South America and you re a dead person. Thank you to rescuers,doctors, pilots and organization to make this possible!!!!

[@Desi365]

how old is this documentary, exactly? I'd say 10 or 12 years probably. The alouettes have been decommissioned a long time ago, replaced by EC145s. Long live the PGHM!

[@stagmite11rs68]

+Didier Martins this was made in 2001

[@brianfuller5868]

The PGHM is awesome. The Alouettes had a distinguished career.

[@mrobbdavis]

Please Doctor - wear your helmet

[@Stalley75]

French people don't believe in helmets. Ever see the Tour de france? none of those frogs wear helmets and every other year one will wreck and his head will pop open like an eggplant.

[@bordeaux33800]

It's not that french people don't believe in helmet, it's just that it's an old documentary and at this time, helmet was not very common. Nowadays in France you can see a lot of people wearing helmets on bike or in moutaineering.

[@scottgoddard3497]

Made a fool of himself and the so called professional team... I did a mountaineering course well over 20 years ago and there's no way you would be in a climbing environment with no helmet...just plain stupid. The reason they were there was because of falling rock. Idiots.

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

He is dead now

[@LukeFrisken]

The guy who fell in the crevasse wasn't badly injured, why didn't they self rescue?? Why didn't he try to prusik up??

[@mixpix]

I don't see any prusik loops or ascending equipment on his harness, so it's possible they were not prepared for it.

[@j.radford7109]

Terry Cameron Hard to tell if they had any kind of ascending gear. Prusik slings attached to the harness and climbing rope are basic for any kind of crevassed glacier travel. Climbing 101.....

[@voltron5128]

I wonder what kind of device they all used to get help? Cell phone, satellite phone, or a beacon. Looking into the Garmin InReach Satellite Communicator for myself

[@misterfunnybones]

9:43 I'd leave him in that rotor wash all the way back to base, just to make a bold statement.

[@deenasmusicbox]

Was this before or after Mountain Rescue series? Has anyone seen the Air Zermatt series from Red Bull? It's pretty exciting to watch also.

[@martacacciafeste9450]

I think this was before Mountain Rescue

[@johnmoonitz2968]

Yeah . . . I think I'll stick with my career as a real estate appraiser! These guys are studs!

[@vixlenz]

Thankful to the rescuers. Truly they're heroes!

[@traindudesink1804]

Just over 6 months ago I severely broke my arm in two places longboarding on my campus. I literally had flashbacks when they pumped the splint he (the English officer) was in. I feel your pain man, hope he had a speedy and thorough recovery

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

It's hard to imagine a world without Helicopters. My favorite flying machine!

[@lu4414]

They got a nice heli upgrade :)

[@mikeday62]

What if Arby's has a roast beef sale.....from Mt. Blanc how far must one drive to restaurant district?

[@Thishandleisavailabl.e]

Falling rock broke his shoulder at least he was wearing a helmet

[@rickcostea1936]

Just wondering why they are not wearing head gear.

[@littlebritton1]

It's the Envers, an area that it usually pretty safe from rockfall as it faces east so doesn't get frosted like N facing cliffs. This program was filmed at least 15 years ago, things have changed a lot since then and helmets are probably mandatory gear now. Sadly, Dr Jerome was killed in an avalanche in Norway whilst guiding in 2012. The Chamonix hospital no longer takes trauma emergencies, these are now taken down to Sallanches. It is little more than a minor injuries unit these days. The Alouettes have now been replaced with more powerful EC145. Many things have changed in 15 years.

[@scottgoddard3497]

Because there morons. Get called to a rescue for people hit by rock fall and dont worry about helmets...all the rocks have fallen already.

[@anthonysears871]

Ok. No female narrators. Their voices hurt my ears!

[@rogerivy2919]

9:55 the injured man rotating madly, is there not a way to secure him ? i find this weird, he's already in and out of consciousness maybe the wiggle will help him or maybe its gona make him more dizzy i dont know.

[@georgeschachuat2684]

A savoir, cette perche a été mise au point par le capitaine Peguillem du CNEAS de grenoble crs des Alpes à l epoque annee1972 à 1978 ou j etais au secours en montagne! L avantage de la perche Barnaud sa facilité a rentrer dans l helico

[@mirilella]

Considerare il MONTE BIANCO situato nel cuore delle Alpi francesi denota scarsa familiarita con la geografia visto che questo e' situato sul confine con l'Italia e quindi la sua cima e' meta in Francia e meta in Italia,a meno che non si voglia intendere che il cuore della Francia e' molto vicino all'Italia

[@patstokes3615]

at 19:23 she said "they have knew idea where the father and the son are" that is quite a stupid statement, of course they knew, why would you leave a birds eye view of the mountain and go to ground instead.

[@drayhazel]

These pilots are bad ass

[@normferguson2769]

The doctor is lowered into a known rockfall area with no helmet!

[@rotorcraftsimulation]

13:09 is he really holding the cyclic like that?

[@mariahsmith5751]

the rescuer wheres crampons and helmet but not the doctor????????????/

[@piteras_52]

Aún quedan aluette 3 volando?

[@borbslivehere]

People seeking thrills, getting themselves into danger. :S

[@borbslivehere]

Eww the bone just moved! ಠ_ರೃ

[@vananderman6429]

At 3.03 the image of Grandes Jorasses is mirrored! Tsss...

[@aldoud1]

yahoooo

[@susanbilodeau7793]

MORE RESCUES PLEASE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!!!!!!

[@Sergecalifornia]

Hey seems to me that is mostly British climber that needs to be rescued.

[@ip2862]

It's difficult to see how one would get that impression on the evidence of this particular film; 1 Brit, 2 French [or possibly French-speaking Swiss], 2 Germans - all Europeans, ie from the continent in which the mountain is located. I suspect that the majority of rescues on North American mountains involve North American people.

[@nomade1697]

Serge, people from all over the world get rescued in Chamonox, sadly for all of them, not just UK

[@nigellbutlerrr2638]

you can not fall into a crevasse when roped and secured as a team properly people are not roping up .......

[@Mumuke87]

+Natts Bab of course you can.

[@Shadowofthesoldier]

+Natts Bab They are mostly skiing, not trecking. It is as people free-ride down to the valley that fall into crevaces...

[@eisgeist300]

Awesome series, HORRIBLY annoying British commentary. Ah well, good way to kill a few hours.

[@ruganer8852]

cool cool cool

[@melodyveylupek762]

I am from So. California. I think the climbers are indeed stupid for taking the high risk to the top of the dangerous mountains and putting the rescuers to risk!!! Should ban the climbers from going up there. Mountains are dangerous to the humans, period! SMH, ridiculous!

[@geckolia3823]

Mountain rescue started for comrades and still is unpaid voluntary in Bavaria, perhaps also elsewhere. The ppl helping are excellent Alpinists who grew up in the mountains themselves. Accidents happen. Troublesome are idiotic tourists going up on mountains in flip flops and normal trainers. Those, if rescued, have to pay it themselves. But there is nothing wrong with going into mountains just how Californians go to the beach, surf or what not. Only many ppl overestimate their skills or don't respect the mountains and that is hardly those who like me went into the mountains every other weekend since I was a small kid. I learned how to walk, what to prepare, what to look out for and where I can get help. There is discussions such courses should be offered to tourists. The ppl in this docu were all experienced and did not make grave mistakes and I'm sure will continue to love and respect mountains.

[@ivanbarbaresco5477]

Nice vid well done there's another MUST video "MONVISO IN NEBBIA"

[@totalyruben]

western europe's highest mountain?? really?? not entirely sure thats correct like but never mind...

[@tgm9991]

I think it's the second highest peak in europe and the highest is Mount Elbrus in eastern europe so yeah I think that's right.

[@nisboilechristensen3094]

Correct Tim.

[@gonzalojuancogonzalez8708]

Yeah, it is the highest in western Europe but not the second highest in Europe, there are more higher peaks in the Caucasus than just Elbrus.

[@tgm9991]

@x y The western part of Russia is in the continent of Europe.

[@semperparatus678]

Drama Queens

[@RollingPeople97]

I'm going to Chamonix in two months. Is the Mountain Rescue still free of charge in Summer? Or do you require Alpine insurance?

[@jimfinn4824]

It's definitely not free of charge. Without insurance you will pay upwards of 10k Euro for a rescue. I highly recommend rescue insurance. Good luck and have a blast in Cham.

[@travellingshoes5241]

Thanks for that. From what i've researched, the actual mountain rescue is free but any medical care administered is charged. I'll be taking out alpine insurance for sure.

[@jimfinn4824]

Good luck, mate, I'm very jealous.

[@travellingshoes5241]

Jim Finn Cheers. Can't wait.

[@lenoir2851]

Actually its not free since 2002. With more than 40 000 rescue par year , its huge cost for the government. But the fee is not very high going from 50 euros to 342 euros, depending the distance and the way you are rescued. By helicopter that's much more expensive with a 30 euros fee per minute. But our insurance cover something like 75% of it. However for foreigners I'm not sure. Better you check with your personal insurance. Enjoy your trip and be safe !

[@wojciechgrodnicki6302]

When a piece of the mountain decides to climb you.

[@ernestb.3523]

unglaublich

[@devo1d]

Dude, there's better ways than slapping. Come on

[@scalpscalp2621]

Anglos are so precious

[@scottgoddard3497]

I couldn't believe what I was watching. The doctor is there in his casual street gear...No Helmet???? Wtf... made a fool of himself and the team he works for....embarrassing.

[@kaloufrag6755]

Very selfish climbers.

[@JustFLBeats]

Pure heroes

[@HPPalmtopTube]

All these people, machines, resources, time etc... spent so a few snobs can practise their hobby... pffff... hope they get sent a big fat bill...

[@truthseeker7192]

This is not the US, you don't have to go bankrupt because of an accident ore a disease.