The Alps this morning turned into a picture of grief that left the world speechless. An hour ago, a rescue helicopter carrying Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer crashed straight into the snow-covered mountainside. Ironically, he had just been taken to the emergency room after a minor accident during his vacation, but the double incident took the life of the star who once made the world famous in sports.
A witness climbing nearby recounted: “We saw the helicopter shaking violently in the clouds. The engine made a terrifying roar before it fell freely like a giant stone. Then there was a deafening explosion, smoke and flames billowing into the white snow.” Paparazzi were there to capture the terrifying moment: photos blurred with smoke, flashes flashing in the gloomy sky, and fans covering their faces and sobbing outside the blockaded area.
Just a few minutes later, ski rescuers and paramedics rushed to the scene. The siren echoed in the cold space, the ambulance could not reach and had to stop far away, giving way to all-terrain vehicles and stretchers. When Roger Federer was pulled out of the charred helicopter, he was completely motionless, his face was covered in smoke and blood. Paramedics immediately put on an oxygen mask, and performed CPR in the middle of the ice and snow. The heartbeat count echoed, the rescue team’s breaths were exhaled in the cold white smoke. But the mobile monitor screen only showed a lifeless straight line.
Federer was rushed to the hospital in Zurich. The ICU was as bright as day, the medical team was doing their best: continuous electric shocks, adrenaline pumped directly into the heart, red alarm beeps continuously. A doctor burst into tears: “We did everything, but we couldn’t bring him back.” A few minutes later, the bad news was announced: Roger Federer had died from multiple organ injuries after the helicopter crash.
The world was shocked. On social media, the hashtags #PrayForFederer and #GoodbyeRoger climbed to the top of the global rankings in just a few minutes. Rafael Nadal choked up and wrote: “Today I lost a friend, tennis lost a legend.” Novak Djokovic burst into tears during practice: “There are no words to describe this pain.” The Swiss government immediately lowered the flag at half-mast and declared three days of national mourning.
In Zurich, thousands of fans poured into the central square, holding white flowers and candles, turning it into a sea of bright memorial. Many knelt and sang “We Will Miss You, Roger” amid incense smoke and tears. Police had to block off many streets due to the large crowd, and even a small bridge shook violently and almost collapsed when fans rushed up. The double incident made the atmosphere even more tragic.
The Alps – once a symbol of eternal beauty – have now become witnesses to a tragedy that shocked the world. The charred remains of a helicopter lay in the snow, the ICU was cold and hopeless, and outside the city was covered with a sea of candles and tears. Roger Federer – the immortal icon of tennis – left the field of his life in fire, smoke and grief, leaving behind a void that nothing could fill.
