Berlin blackout nearly costs ALS patient his life as ventilator fails at home

Andreas Thomsen’s ventilator almost shut down when the power died. Firefighters battled locked gates and dead elevators to save him—just in time.

, and Administrator

2026 January 8 . 7:02 AM

1 min read

In this image, we can see a poster. Here we can see yellow color ambulance with some text and... — In this image, we can see a poster. Here we can see yellow color ambulance with some text and numerical numbers on it.

How a power outage nearly choked a Berliner - Berlin blackout nearly costs ALS patient his life as ventilator fails at home

A major power outage in Berlin on 3 January 2026 left thousands without electricity, including those relying on life-saving medical devices. Among them was Andreas Thomsen, a 68-year-old lawyer from Zehlendorf with ALS, whose ventilator nearly failed when its backup battery drained to just two minutes of power.

Thomsen’s ventilator depended on a backup battery during the blackout. As the device neared complete failure, emergency services raced to his home. Firefighters faced immediate challenges: an electric gate refused to open, and the building’s elevator was stuck due to the outage.

Once inside, it took multiple responders to carry Thomsen down the stairs. They rushed him into an ambulance, where he was finally connected to a fully charged ventilator. From there, he was transported to DRK Hospital in Westend.

Thomsen is now stable and recovering in hospital. Doctors expect him to return home soon. The incident highlights the critical risks power failures pose to those dependent on medical equipment.