A ski trip in Virginia took an unexpected turn on Jan. 26, 2025, when a 6-year-old boy slipped off a moving chairlift and dangled above rough, sloping ground. Sitting beside him was Major Metzger, then 10, who grabbed the younger boy’s arms and held on until ski patrol reached them with a safety mat. The chair was about 16 feet above the ground, and the boy remained suspended for approximately 4 minutes. He eventually fell onto the mat, suffering a small bump on his head, and did not require further medical treatment. Metzger’s actions have since earned him the Carnegie Medal, one of North America’s highest honours for civilian heroism. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger presented the medal to him in September 2026, formally recognising a rescue that began with a child trying to keep his friend from falling.
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