Where in Western Europe do I have the greatest chance to save
somebody's life by risking my own withou joining any organisation like
voluntary fire brigade or working as a lifeguard or something? A way
to prove courage.

Donate a kidney

Good idea but it has to be something I can do entirely alone, no third
party involved.

I can't answer your question but I do want to add this: Having had a
long career in law enforcement I have saved more lives than I can
remember in my lifetime. When you are put in this position you also
fail occassionally. It isn't a good feeling and if I had to choose
some way of proving my bravery,this would not be the route that I
would recommend. If the chore falls to you and you fail, the
consequences for both you and the person who depended upon you can be
devastating. If you feel the need to "prove" your bravery at the risk
of someone else's life your question has already been answered. I
suggest you go rock climbing instead. The life you save will be your
own.

tutuzdad-ga

There are millions of people in Africa who die of AIDS because
*nobody* even tries to help them but by spending a considerable amount
of money you could go there, find one of them, take him to Europe, and
pay for his treatment. Is there no group of people in Europe who die
because no organisation of any kind cares about them or at least isn't
able to care about all of them? E.g. when you see somebody drowning
and the only way of rescuing him is by putting your life in jeopardy
as there's no way to call for help. Is there nothing like this that
happens on a regular basis? It's not about bravery, I just want to
save a life.

Give blood, donate bone marrow, sign up to become an organ donor,
rescue a homeless person, adopt a child (or at least sponsor one),
work a suicide hotline, read to the elderly (your companionship "will"
prolong a life and that is tantamount to saving one).

It is not bravery you are seeking to prove, it is your courage. Keep
in mind that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the
judgement that something else is "more important" than your fear. YOUR
courage is your own, not what you BELIEVE it to be my watching
everyone else.

---------------
"Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in
himself the courage of other persons.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson"
---------------

The truth is, some people CAN be drowning IN LIFE without even being
in the water. It takes a sharp eye to see them but they are
"everywhere" my friend. When you find your first one all the rest of
them will come into view. Go find them - in doing so you will likley
prove your courage as well.

tutuzdad-ga

The worst part about placing yourself in a position where you can save
a life, is when your best efforts aren't enough.  In EMS people tend
not to take credit for saving a patient's life, as it means we also
have to take resposibility for those who die.  Sadly, when a person is
life/death medical situation, they usually die.

Well, how about hill rescue? You don?t necessarily have to join any
body, just be accepted by the professionals as being someone who is a
definite asset rather than a liability. I tagged along with a group
once years ago, retrieving an injured tourist, (from ?The Grey Mare?s
Tail?) with no qualifications other than an intimate knowledge of the
terrain. The hills of Scotland (England, Wales too) are scoured in
atrocious weather by search parties composed partly of ?approved? but
not affiliated helpers, and it is not without risk.

Any use?

Best

.....sorry, meant to add, but you can go search by yourself when
someone goes missing --though not generally approved of.