“Lifesavers” – Our New Original Series Celebrating Europe’s Blue Light Heroes

Across Europe, thousands of professionals and volunteers follow a calling to help others – whether it’s rescuing those stranded on a mountain, rushing into a burning building or speeding through city streets to give emergency medical assistance. These extraordinary individuals can face self-doubt and fear, yet they go forward regardless. It’s this incredible spirit and dedication to their communities that is the focus of our new film series called “Lifesavers”.

The Lifesavers series launches with Sarai Granell Vicente, a medical paramedic just four months into her role with the Valencia Ambulancias Edetanas.

Our cameras follow as she embarks on a twelve-hour nightshift, capturing her in action as she rushes to attend a 96-year-old man, who has been struggling to breathe for an hour already, then being called to an altercation at one of the city’s bars. All is not as it seems though.

Sarai embarks on a typical night, filled with both adrenaline and moments of reflection, and while she admits to facing doubts and fears, ultimately she feels this is the best thing she can do every day.

Watch the full video below. 

We travelled to the Czech Republic for episode two, which dives into the story of Martin Srahulek and his team of volunteers in the Nové Mlýny Water Rescue Team. 

The team’s members include a student, a police officer and a firefighter, who patrol an area that previously had no lifeguards and hosts dozens of events a year. During a recent yacht race, Martin’s crew raced into a storm and pulled thirty competitors from the water after their boats overturned.

Nové Mlýny Water Rescue Team give countless hours each year without expecting payment or gratitude; Martin spends more time on the water than he does at home. Facing danger and saving lives together has bonded the volunteers into a family who are proud to make a difference and love what they do. 

Episode three follows Dr Natalya Kennedy, who was inspired to study medicine after a friend suffered a cardiac arrest in front of her as they were playing hockey together.

Dr Kennedy now volunteers for Derby Mountain Rescue in the UK, providing emergency search and rescue in the UK’s wild Peak District National Park. The area is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and climbers, meaning Dr Kennedy’s team has to be specially trained in caring for and evacuating injured people from hard-to-reach areas.

“There’s a privilege in being allowed to wear the red jacket you get when you’ve completed your training, and there’s a respect for each other that goes with that."

Dr Natalya Kennedy,

Volunteer, Derby Mountain Rescue

The jacket is a badge of honour, and every member of the team recognises the bravery, dedication and selflessness of everyone who wears them while out finding and rescuing injured people in dangerous conditions.

Witness the team’s calmness, experience and care as they help a fallen climber here:

Episode four of our Lifesavers series follows the fearless firefighters of Pompiers 13 in Bouches-du- Rhône. One of the driest regions in France and an area in which wind speeds can reach 100km/h, Bouches-du- Rhône has been devastated by large blazes in the past; losing over 400 hectares in an incident last year.

We learn what it means to Grégory Lefeuvre to be a firefighter, what he overcame to pursue his dream, and how he is fuelled by his passion to help those in need.

“The main motivation is to serve others, being there when someone is in need of help, assistance. Everyday as a firefighter you are confronted with misery but we meet amazing people, we’re able to help others, and that’s wonderful.” 

Grégory Lefeuvre,

Pompiers 13 Fire Brigade,

Each team member serves the region with an enormous sense of pride, and trainee Angélique Picatto is no different. She reveals the mental and physical battles that she continues to face and overcome as she forges a career in the fire service.

Find out more in the video below:

The penultimate episode of this first series of Lifesavers travels to Germany where we meet Mike Landfried of the Bavarian Red Cross. He’s an ambulance worker with twelve years of experience, and while he is well-versed in responding to emergencies, it’s his uniquely human approach to patients that stands out.

Our cameras recount some of his more unusual rescue situations, but we also follow him on a day-to-day task he finds great importance in – of transporting patients who are often elderly and live alone. It’s here his compassion shines through. He also reveals the unexpected way he helps process what happens to him on the job; by taking to the stage as stand-up comedian ‘Rescue Mike’.
 

“It’s wonderful to help people, but also the patients give me something back, be it only a ‘thank you’. A simple honest ‘thank you’ is something I appreciate.”   

Mike Landfried,

Bavarian Red Cross

In the final episode of our Lifesavers series, we travel to Postojna, Slovenia, where a small spark can quickly create a wildfire that spreads through the forests. Here, we meet volunteer firefighter Tjaša Gregorn, a graphic design and multimedia student.

Tjaša followed in the footsteps of her mother, aunt, and uncle in becoming a volunteer firefighter and sees her close-knit team as a second family – an essential part of her support system. They fight together, for each other, and for their community.
 

“Fear, we all fear. Not of the fire, but for each other, so that we come back as a unit.”

Tjaša Gregorn
Volunteer Firefighter

 
Find out more in the video below:

Closing thoughts from Hans Schep (general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe)

We produced our Lifesavers series to highlight the commitment and devotion of emergency service personnel around Europe. They are true heroes, and we were delighted to capture for you the extraordinary lengths they go to every day.

There are far more Lifesavers stories than we were able to tell. We found exceptional people wherever we went, each with their own motivation, but all sharing a tireless commitment to caring for others. I hope you felt as reassured and inspired by each Lifesavers episode as I was, and I thank each of them for sharing their stories so openly with us.

 As the year comes to a close and many of us look forward to spending more time in comfort with loved ones, I will be keeping in mind those who choose to sacrifice these moments to stay on duty and protect the rest of us.

 Gracias, danke schön, thank you, hvala lepa, merci, děkuji vám. 

Watch our series one highlights: 

Find out more on how Ford has been supporting everyday heroes do extraordinary things:

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