From victim to helper: Magdeburg paramedic finds new meaning in life in Hesse

From victim to helper: Magdeburg paramedic finds new meaning in life in Hesse

In an impressive turnaround after the horror of the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg on December 20, 2024, Phillip Peplau sees a future as an emergency paramedic. The 30-year-old was on site as a paramedic on that fateful day and experienced the horror first hand when a car plowed into the crowd at full speed. Six people lost their lives and around 300 were injured. These traumatic experiences initially made him move to Hesse to distance himself from his hometown, but his desire to help remains unbroken. He is currently completing his training as an emergency paramedic with the German Red Cross in Groß-Gerau, as hessenschau.de reports.

A profound experience for Phillip was the medical care of a seriously injured woman, whom he unfortunately was unable to save. This left a mark, but the memory of his service as a helper helped him not to collapse while rebuilding his life. He received support from Diana Meyer, an emergency counselor and trauma therapist, who helped him process his experiences. He even plans to get into emergency pastoral care himself to help others in crisis situations.

Long-term support for those affected

Coming to terms with such traumatic experiences is of central importance. Pascal Kober, the federal government's victims' representative, has recently been active in Magdeburg and is committed to building sustainable structures to support the attack victims. “Those affected often only come forward after a long time,” explains Kober, emphasizing the importance of long-term emergency pastoral care. Pastor Justus Münster, who was already on duty during the attack on Berlin's Breitscheidplatz, recommends talking about the experiences. This makes it easier for those affected to deal with their experiences, reports MDR.

Another focus is on the mental health of children, because they too notice the behavioral changes of adults. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief uses information material to help children understand this difficult topic.

The need for help

The demand for psychological support services has increased in Germany. In Bavaria alone, crisis services recorded around 97,816 telephone requests for help in 2024. This increase reflects an effort to encourage people to share their own experiences in crisis situations and seek professional help. As part of the Bavaria-wide campaign “Courage in the Crisis”, those affected are encouraged to contact crisis services, as described on the Bavarian Crisis Services website Crisis Services Bavaria.

Phillip Peplau and others have learned from the terrible attacks that help often comes in unexpected forms and that the path to mental well-being often leads through sharing and talking about experiences. Your commitment, be it as an emergency paramedic or in emergency pastoral care, offers a glimmer of hope for many.