- Security guard from Dortmund branch wins second place in BDSW employee award
- Courageous action on New Year’s Eve saves young man’s life
- Andreas Kaus: ‘A role model for civic courage and professional dedication’
The Federal Association of the Security Industry (BDSW) honoured its ‘Employees of the Year’ yesterday at its 58th Annual General Meeting in Berlin. Furkan Akcadag, security guard at KÖTTER Security’s Dortmund branch, was awarded second place in the prestigious ‘Employee of the Year’ competition. He was honoured for his extraordinary efforts in the first hour of 2024, when he saved a young man’s life.
‘We would like to congratulate all the winners,’ said Andreas Kaus, Managing Director of the KÖTTER Security Group. ‘They have shown courage, prudence and humanity in their work. Today’s awards once again underline how important well-trained and committed security personnel are for our society.’
Night-time lifesaver
While many people were celebrating the start of the new year, Furkan Akcadag was on duty as a district driver in Dortmund. After midnight, the 28-year-old witnessed a dramatic incident on the B236 federal highway towards Lünen: a pedestrian fell over the guardrail and hit his head on the road. According to the emergency services, impaired consciousness may have played a role. Without hesitation, Furkan Akcadag stopped his vehicle and called the emergency services. After determining that the person was unresponsive and not breathing, he began CPR under the guidance of the emergency services over the phone until the paramedics arrived.
Thanks to his courageous intervention, the young man was able to leave the hospital a few days later. ‘I acted instinctively and focused on what needed to be done,’ said Furkan Akcadag at the award ceremony. ‘This recognition means a lot to me. It shows that our profession comes with a high level of social responsibility.’
Role model for the industry
The BDSW has presented the employee award annually since 2018 at its annual general meeting. The award honours security personnel who demonstrate exceptional commitment, courage and responsibility in exceptional situations, thereby strengthening the image of the industry. The award winners represent the nearly 300,000 employees in the German security industry who make an important contribution to public and private security every day.
