After the assault on a train attendant in Rhineland‑Palatinate, the Bundeswehr soldier who rendered first aid is speaking publicly for the first time. The 23‑year‑old soldier, who prefers not to give his full name, told the news portal T‑Online that the alleged Greek suspect had been “aggressive from the very beginning”. He serves as a Hauptgefreiter (lance corporal) in Company 4 of the 26th Parachute Regiment based in Zweibrücken, and his company confirmed that he was the first responder on that train.
According to the soldier, the suspected attacker repeatedly claimed during the ticket inspection that he had combat‑sport experience. He was sitting only a few rows behind the suspect when the attacker “delivered several blows deliberately aimed at the head of the train attendant”.
After the attack, the soldier and another man provided first aid and placed the train attendant, Serkan C., in the recovery position. Initially, Serkan was still breathing, but just before arriving at Homburg station, the soldier reported that the attendant’s breathing stopped: “He suddenly had no pulse” he said, noting that the soldier had joined the Bundeswehr in June 2024. Police then took over further rescue efforts.
“The Bundeswehr frequently trains us on vital signs and first aid so that we can act safely under stress” the soldier explained. “I simply followed what I had learned. It is natural to me to help people in distress; everyone should watch out for one another. I would act the same way again, 100 percent”.
