Skip to main content

No room for error — watch as this skiing rescue pilot shows off his skills

There's nothing routine in a skier rescue, but this pilot takes talent to the next level

Screenshot from a video of an incredible helicopter rescue in Europe.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve ridden in a helicopter, you probably fall into one of these three categories: You’re wealthy enough to own or hire one, you’ve worked in a remote service job such as tree planting, or you’ve been on a sightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon. There is a fourth option, but speaking from the experience of my first helicopter ride, the best way to do it is not to be strapped onto a spinal board; sometimes, we just don’t have a choice.

Helicopter rescues are not altogether uncommon in ski resorts, and in the backcountry, where time is of the essence. If you’ve spent enough time in these places, you’ve probably heard the familiar whirr as the choppers fly in. While the pilots on these rescue operations have to be highly skilled and trained to maneuver their aircraft into difficult spaces and in some rough weather, it’s rare that we get to see this skill in action. Check out this video from Europe that shows just how skilled these helicopter rescue pilots are.

Daring Helicopter Rescue in Pass of Anterne in Passy, France

The rescue mission, which took place at the Col d’Anterne in the French Alps, was carried out by the Chamonix Gendarmerie High Mountain Platoon to rescue a stranded casualty who had fallen while skiing. Even from the outside, this is obviously carried out by a highly skilled pilot with nerves of steel and control over his helicopter, though the pilot was a little less prepared to accept his praise. Speaking to French news outlet France Bleu, the pilot said his actions were “nothing extraordinary” and that the maneuver is called a skate support.

Recommended Videos

Putting aside the pilot’s military modesty for a moment, this is an example of the sort of extraordinary skill that rescue operators around the world have. To position the helicopter within inches of the mountainside, resting on the tips of the skates while the rotors spin within touching distance of snow — and disaster —  is highly impressive, to say the least. Hopefully, you’ll never need to call on rescue services when you’re out skiing in the backcountry, hitting the slopes in the winter, or whenever you might be headed into the mountains, but it’s reassuring to witness the skill in action and to know that these operators are on hand when you need them the most.

Tom Kilpatrick
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
December favorites: The best shows to watch on Starz
From Outlander to Party Down, these are the best shows you can stream on Starz
Outlanders

Since its inception, Starz has proven it can hang with larger competitors like Max. Although it's now making television in an incredibly crowded landscape, Starz has managed to regularly launch shows that make an impact, and it speaks to the enduring quality of these shows that they've also stood the test of time.
These shows have also spanned a wide array of genres, making viewers laugh and weep, often in equal measure. Through it all, though, these Starz shows have proven it can reliably make shows that touch viewers and endure for years after their time on the air has concluded.

Party Down (2009)

Read more
9 shows like Yellowjackets to watch if you’re obsessed
These series provide the same thrill and horror as Yellowjackets
Lottie talks to the group in 1996

Yellowjackets didn't get a lot of audience recognition when it started on Showtime, but an addition to Netflix's roster should introduce the mystery series to a vast number of newbies. The drama runs two parallel timelines next to each other with the same characters. A girls' soccer team crashes in the woods and has to turn to their worst instincts to survive. The atrocities they underwent still affect them 25 years later into their 40s, a storyline the show also gives equal screen time to.

Season 3 of Yellowjackets should premiere shortly, but in the meantime, fans are probably wondering where they can find a similar series. For a show to be like Yellowjackets, it should combine coming-of-age characters, some sort of mystery, and maybe dark humor. There are some older classics and modern shows that fulfill some or all of these requirements. These are the best shows like Yellowjackets to watch next!

Read more
12 post-apocalyptic movies and shows you need to watch
Whether you're into zombies, aliens, or climate catastrophes, we've found the perfect apocalypse media for you
Rick and Daryl in The Walking Dead

There are two basic opinions about post-apocalyptic movies and TV series. Either you find them a bit bleak, or you enjoy imagining a post-apocalyptic future that's distinct from the worlds we might eventually inhabit, possibly with a hint of sci-fi as well. If you're into the idea of post-apocalypse TV shows and movies, then this list might be for you.

From comedies about the end of the world to dramas about the suffering that it would cause, this list represents a perfect cross-section of TV and movies that detail what the end of the world might look like. As this list suggests, there's no single way to tell a story about the end of the world, but these are some of the best movies and TV shows that imagine that kind of dire future.

Read more