Mayor Barbara Ludwig awards lifesaver badge
Four citizens of the city of Chemnitz were honoured today for their civil courage with the award of the Lifesaving Badge of the Free State of Saxony and an entry in the city's Golden Book. Thomas Heinz, Christian Präkels, Michael Schmidtke and Eric Schwuchow saved the lives of a young mother and her child in November last year by fending off a dog attack. The ceremony took place in the Agricola Hall of the Old Town Hall.
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "Anyone who has not been in such a situation themselves will find it difficult to imagine what to do and what not to do. At the risk of their own lives, the four men being honoured today acted decisively and courageously to save the young mother and her child. I would like to thank everyone involved in the rescue for their incredible courage and courageous actions."
Deputy Chemnitz Police Chief Johannes Heinisch and other representatives of Chemnitz Police Headquarters, who played a key role in the operation at the time, also took part in the ceremony. The mayor of Gersdorf, Wolfgang Streubel, was also present, as one of the lifesavers, Mr Christian Präkels, lives in the municipality.
Among the guests at the festive event was Birgit Albrecht, the mother of the rescued Lisa Albrecht, together with her rescued grandson Ian Michael Albrecht. Lisa Albrecht, who was seriously injured by the dog at the time, is currently in hospital again for treatment. Birgit Albrecht used the festive gathering in the town hall, which ended with a coffee, to thank the lifesavers on behalf of her daughter. The lifesavers will each receive a copy of the volume "100 Years of the New Town Hall" as a memento.