The Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) have been awarded a prize for their life-saving intervention during the devastating fire at the Kennedy Tower in Liège last June.

On 24 June 2024, a devastating fire broke out in Liège in the Kennedy Tower, a 27-storey residential building. With local firefighters unable to free residents trapped on the upper floors of the building, the Belgian crisis unit requested immediate assistance from the LAR.

A rescue helicopter and its specially trained crew, consisting of a winch operator and rescuer from the Hazardous Environment Reconnaissance and Intervention Group (GRIMP), were immediately dispatched to Liège.

During this perilous intervention, the rescue team managed to free five residents trapped on their apartment balconies, as well as two firefighters stuck on the roof of the building. All were brought to safety.

RTL

© Steph Pictures LAR

For their intervention, the LAR and the CGDIS were awarded the Benelux Prize on 13 December 2024 in The Hague.

The Benelux Prize is awarded to individuals, institutions or companies that have provided exceptional services to the Benelux countries and have thus made a particular contribution to the international influence of the three countries.

In July, the city of Liège awarded medals to Luxembourg's rescue services as well.