Five missions a day

Chef drops everything to save lives

Florian Kerschhaggl is actually the junior manager at the inn. Several times a day, however, he becomes a first aider - sometimes even a lifesaver.(Bild: Roland Holitzky)

Winter is peak season: Florian Kerschhaggl (26) from Salzburg's Lungau region sets off from his work up to five times a day on voluntary missions to save lives. It is often a matter of minutes that can make the difference between life and death. "Ever since my dad had a heart attack, I've known that helping hands are extremely important."

When three German teenagers recently spent anxious minutes trapped in a lift, Florian Kerschhaggl was on the scene four minutes later. Together with his comrades from the Katschberg volunteer fire department, the junior manager of Gasthof Bacher on Katschberg rescued the holidaymakers from a hotel lift. Five minutes after the alarm was raised, they were free again. "They were very relieved and grateful," says Kerschhaggl.