“Evacuation of 391-Kilogram Woman in Stenay: Unprecedented Operation in France Goes as Planned”

In the city center of Stenay en Meuse, several adjoining streets are closed to traffic, the sector is cordoned off. A 391-kilogram, 62-year-old woman has to be evacuated from her apartment for health reasons.

Several health professionals who intervene at his home have given the alert. Local firefighters have also intervened twice in recent months. The sexagenarian, of American nationality, has lived in Stenay for fifteen years. If at first, she was not in favor of his hospitalization, she finally asked for it.

An intervention planned for months

The competent services have been preparing for several months. “This extraordinary operation required upstream multi-partnership work with the Regional Health Agency, Nancy University Hospital, SAMU 55 and 54, the departmental council, home care and hospitalization services, nurses liberals, Madame’s attending physician, the defense and civil protection office, the town hall, the prefecture and the sub-prefecture of Verdun…”, underline and insist the director of cabinet Bernard Burckel and his deputy Franck Janiaut. “We welcome everyone’s mobilization”. This Wednesday, five intervention vehicles as well as around forty firefighters were mobilized, including two units specializing in clearing rescue and a Grimp team, in particular. Gendarmes and reservists, as well as the municipal police, were present to ensure the security of the site. The technical services and the mayor of Stenay Stéphane Perrin were also on site.

An operation “unprecedented in France”

Around 8:45 a.m., a point was made to brief the teams. It was notably recalled that the patient could die, once relieved, but that it was imperative to act. “Whatever happens and happens, she will be extracted today. The manipulations will be technical and risky. We are going to take the time to breathe and think about each gesture”, insisted, before the mission, Colonel Stéphane Eslinger, deputy departmental director and deputy head of the Meuse departmental fire and rescue service (SDIS 55) . “It’s the kind of operation that we will only experience once in our careers”.

“There are multiple technical difficulties, namely the configuration of the building (the patient is on the first floor), the weight of Madame (which was initially estimated before being known) as well as the position in which she must be evacuated. (half seated)”, explains Franck Janiaut. “An intervention of this type, with such a level of complexity, has never happened in France”.

“She thanked us a thousand times”

In the morning, the firefighters mounted a stretcher on the first floor and through the window. “We manufactured and tested it ourselves,” says Colonel Stéphane Eslinger. Walls were broken down to move the patient from her room to the side room. A hole was then drilled in the chamber since a closed business is located just below.

The descent of the woman was ensured by a lifting system with the stretcher. The windows of the sign were removed so that the sexagenarian could be taken out and join a Belgian ambulance, France not having a specialized vehicle suitable for transporting this patient.

At around 3:15 p.m., she left the building. The operation went well. “Madame is very happy, she has a feeling of deliverance and certainly of relief”, testifies Colonel Stéphane Eslinger while his teams are packing up their equipment. “This morning, she didn’t think we were going to succeed. She thanked us a thousand times.

The Belgian ambulance, escorted by the gendarmerie, went to the Nancy hospital center where the patient was well taken care of.