Two police officers who were severely injured on October 7 met the Magen David Adom paramedics who saved their lives.
Or Yosef, an operations officer, and Yoni Daskalo, an intelligence officer, from the Segev Shalom police station in the Negev, fought off terrorists throughout the day on October 7 and were critically injured by gunfire. After saving many others’ lives and being severely injured while doing so, they themselves were rescued by an MDA Mobile Intensive Care Unit before being evacuated by helicopter to the hospital.
Officers Yosef and Daskalo were recently reunited with Dr. Shafir Botner, MDA flight paramedic and head of the paramedic school, and Rami Miller, MDA flight paramedic and medical division director, who evacuated him to the hospital.
“It is very exciting being with these brave police officers who were badly wounded and are now standing here smiling,” said Miller. “This is very emotional, I never stopped thinking about you.”
Officers Yosef and Daskalo worked together under heavy fire in Re’im, the site of the music festival that had been attacked. “When we entered Re’im,” recalls Officer Daskalo, “we heard a violent explosion which we recognized as an RPG. We knew that if we would stay in the vehicle, we would die. So, we decided to get out, take cover, and fight the terrorists from there. During the battle, we were hurt by gunfire and shrapnel. I was shot in the stomach and Or suffered injuries to his limbs.”
Nisim Sasi, the paramedic who initially treated Officers Yosef and Daskalo in an MDA MICU, could tell right away that they needed to get to the hospital immediately and requested a helicopter evacuation for Yosef and Daskalo.
“During the evacuation Yoni said to me that he is going to die,” recalls Sasi. “I held his hand and answered him, ‘you’re not going to die here, not on my shift.’ Seeing you here today, back on your feet, illustrates how important our fight for your lives was on the MICU. I was worried about you, and I am excited to see you again.”
