Awarded for Bravery: Mayor honored by the Home Ministry for successful rescue operation

In a fateful moment on the A30 near the Großengau rest area, landscaper Mirko Ortmann, a 34-year-old resident of Bünde, found himself confronted with a life-altering event. On that day, Sven Böker, a 33-year-old local man, lost control of his motorcycle, leading to a severe accident.

Ortmann, with limited first aid experience but a quick and thoughtful mind, stopped to help. He remembered exercises from his military time and called the emergency services, providing them with the precise location between the Großengau rest area and the Melle-Ost exit.

Joining Ortmann at the scene was another first responder, whose identity remains undisclosed. Together, they tended to Böker's injuries, using whatever was available—bandages and belts—to bind his wounds. Tragically, no one else stopped to help, and there were not several calls to the control center.

The accident resulted in Böker losing his right foot and right forearm, and severely injuring his other arm and left leg. He spent seven months in the hospital, underwent over 20 operations, and spent several rehabilitation stays learning to use his arms and legs again. Remarkably, he is now able to climb stairs and walk kilometres on good days.

Böker's recovery has been nothing short of miraculous, and he is now out of danger. His two children, aged two and a half and ten, interact naturally with their father, a testament to his resilience and strength.

Ortmann and Böker have forged an extraordinary bond from this tragic event. They are now friends and share each other's lives. Ortmann, who is getting married soon, is expected to be among the congratulations, and he celebrates Böker's birthday twice a year.

Ortmann's father, a firefighter, advised him to seek counseling and support to better cope with the images left by the accident. Ortmann is now working from home in Bünde and wants to pursue an administrative apprenticeship.

Sadly, Ortmann and Böker are no longer in contact with the other first responder. Another driver stopped but had an empty first aid kit, making Ortmann and the unnamed helper the only ones who could provide immediate aid. A helicopter transport was not an option due to Böker's multiple life-threatening injuries.

Despite the hardships, the story of Mirko Ortmann and Sven Böker is one of hope, resilience, and the power of human connection. Their bond serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of moments, acts of kindness can have a profound and lasting impact.