American Oleh Improving after Collapse during IDF Training

An immigrant to Israel who collapsed during army training and was placed on life support spoke and started breathing on his own.

Matthew Klein, 20, formerly of Los Angeles, opened his eyes in a Tel Aviv hospital on Monday and spoke for the first time in more than a week Yediot Achronot reported. His friends and army buddies were at his bedside.

Klein had collapsed Aug. 18 while on a training run with his Nahal Brigade unit.

The Israeli military determined that despite the heat and humidity, the run was within the protocol for health and safety guidelines for training in hot weather.

Klein’s mother arrived in Israel the day after his collapse.

Klein made aliyah more than a year ago after participating in a gap-year Young Judea Israel Program, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal reported. He is a graduate of the Shalhevet high school in Los Angeles.