What was meant to be a relaxing getaway turned into a life-saving mission for Monaco firefighter Chief Warrant Officer Frank Giribaldi, who has now been officially decorated for his bravery while off duty.
The head of the Fontvieille Rescue Centre was on a winter holiday near Valberg on February 24 when he encountered a medical emergency involving a 76-year-old in full cardiac arrest, according to Monaco Matin. Without hesitation, Giribaldi sprang into action. For half an hour, he performed resuscitation efforts—ultimately reviving the man.
That extraordinary act earned him the bronze medal for courage and dedication, awarded by Alpes-Maritimes departmental president Charles Ange Ginésy during France’s Bastille Day commemorations in Péone, a village near the site of the incident.
The ceremony, which also paid tribute to residents from the neighbouring communes of Beuil, Guillaumes, and Puget-Théniers, was a moment to spotlight individual heroism rooted in public service. Ginésy spoke movingly of Giribaldi’s intervention: “In my beloved village of Péone, I had the honour of presenting this medal to Chief Warrant Officer Frank Giribaldi in recognition of his unwavering commitment and duty—principles that lie at the very core of our Republic.”
The departmental president went on to praise not only Giribaldi but the entire firefighting corps: “His actions remind us of the nobility of the rescue services. In these turbulent times, the values of liberty, equality and fraternity must be lived and defended across all our territories.”
Giribaldi’s actions highlight that heroism doesn’t clock off. Whether in uniform or on holiday, for Monaco’s firefighters, the call of duty is never far away.
