On Sunday, April 23, 2017, an American paramedic supporting the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE- SMM), was killed and two others injured after their vehicle hit an explosive device in eastern Ukraine. Paramedic support for the OSCE-SMM is provided by Global Rescue Coöperatief, U.A., a European subsidiary of Global Rescue.

Joseph Stone, 36, of Tucson, Arizona, had been a part of the support team for more than a year.

“We are shocked and saddened by Joseph Stone’s death in this tragic incident. We will be doing everything possible in the coming days to support his family and will work with the OSCE and the Ukrainian and European governments as they conduct their investigations,” said Global Rescue Chief Executive Officer Daniel Richards. 

The incident took place at 11:17 a.m. local time near Pryshyb in the Luhansk region. It is the first time in three years that one of the more than 600 SMM members in Ukraine has been killed.

On 21 March 2014, the Permanent Council of OSCE decided to deploy the Special monitoring mission of unarmed civilian observers to Ukraine. The ultimate goal of the SMM is to help Ukraine to reduce tensions and facilitate dialogue between all the sides.  Global Rescue Coöperatief has provided medical and associated logistical support to OSCE members since 2015.

With 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia, the OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization. The OSCE works for stability, peace and democracy for more than a billion people, through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference.

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. The company provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last decade. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.