Early Friday night, during the Shabbat Maariv service, a 47-year-old man lost consciousness and collapsed onto the floor of the synagogue in Karnei Shomron. A congregant with EMT training and a former paramedic immediately rushed over to the man, connected him to the defibrillator in the synagogue’s medical kit, and started compressions. The patient’s wife and children stood anxious and nervous at his side.
Another congregant called emergency services for help as the other congregants left the synagogue to let the rescue proceed uninterrupted, and stood outside reciting Tehillim together, waiting to hear the news about their friend.
United Hatzalah volunteer Dr. Yaakov Seligman received the alert about the emergency at the synagogue from dispatch while he, too, was in the middle of the evening prayer. He ran over, arriving in less than two minutes. He continued the resuscitation efforts with the first responders. After two minutes of chest compressions, a shock from the defibrillator was administered and after an additional two minutes, the man’s pulse returned. He started to breathe independently moments later.
United Hatzalah volunteer Paramedic Oren Fadida arrived at the scene after he rushed over from his shul and joined the rescue team. They performed all the necessary routine checkups, fitted the patient with an oxygen mask, and administered liquids and medicine through an IV.
When Fadida connected an EKG device, the team realized that the cause of the heart attack had been a sudden blockage in one of the arteries near the heart. They then prepared the patent for transport to the hospital. On the way to the ambulance, the man suddenly regained full consciousness.
“I usually try not to look at the patient’s face, but for some reason, I did this time,” Fadida recalled. “I immediately recognized him and realized that he was my close friend of many years. It made the incident much more stressful when it was closer to home.”
“Then, when he finally came to, and the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Oren, what are you doing here?’ I was shocked. It was chilling and very emotional. I responded that he shouldn’t worry because he is in good hands and going to the hospital.”
As soon as he arrived at the hospital, the patient underwent cardiac catheterization.
On Saturday night, Dr. Seligman was told by the hospital physicians that the immediate medical response from the EMTs and the use of the defibrillator saved the patient’s life. The patient is still in the hospital for additional checkups and supervision and is doing well.
Dr. Seligman said: “It was truly an honor and a privilege to be part of the lifesaving operation. This man means a lot to our community and is a great friend. We should only be so fortunate to experience more miracles like this one.”