KGHM rescuers on the podium of the National Mountain Rescue Competition

They confirmed their championship - KGHM rescuers from the Mine and Smelter Rescue Unit took second place during the 28th National Mountain Rescue Competition. The winners were the firefighters from the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Wrocław. The competition took place in Karłów on the Szczeliniec mountain in the Stołowe Mountains.

Twenty-three teams, most of them not from mountain rescue services, participated in this year’s competition. This number included two KGHM teams, including the one defending the champion’s title, composed of Tomasz Zawadzki (Polkowice Sieroszowice mine), Robert Walkowiak (Rudna mine), and Adrian Szpilewski (Rudna mine), and the other team composed of: Mariusz Liana (Lubin mine), Sylwester Szymczyk (Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine), and Arkadiusz Szlędak (Lubin mine).

“KGHM rescuers confirmed that they are members of the elite of the services responsible for the safety of both the company’s workers and the residents of the Copper Belt. Great congratulations to the team. The contestants once again proved that they have great courage and determination in their rescue operations,” said Tomasz Zdzikot, the CEO of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

The competition consisted of 8 events related to mountain rescue operations. The rescuers were required, among other things, to rescue their partners and pass on clamping devices with a rope release of 25 meters, on a structure that allows an approach to a height of 6 meters. The participants also ran up the Szczeliniec mountain and had to cross a horizontal rope bridge.

As part of the last task, the rescuers had to complete a seemingly easy run down from the peak of Szczeliniec and then, at the bottom, they had to transport one of their team members on a rescue cart to the finish line (about 100 m). In the entire description of the various events, the KGHM team lost only 17 seconds.

“Once again, KGHM rescuers and firefighters demonstrated their high level of training and preparedness to help in any, even the most difficult conditions. Congratulations to the KGHM teams! Safety is an absolute priority for us, and the professionalism and skills of our rescuers are crucial in this area,” said Marek Świder, the Vice President of the Management Board for Production at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

It is worth emphasizing that the two winning teams broke the one-hour mark. The time achieved and the lack of penalty points from the various events indicate the high professionalism of the participants who normally work in mines.

The professionalism and skills of the rescuers and firefighters of KGH’s Mine and Smelter Rescue Unit have been recognized many times. In last year’s International Rescue Team Competition, KGHM mine rescuers took third place in one of the events, thus winning the bronze medal.