When Magen David Adom volunteer EMT David Rotenberg was dispatched to the scene of a cardiac arrest, he was surprised to find that the patient was his yeshiva classmate. Rotenberg happened to be nearest to Eliezer Rubin’s home at the time of the call. He started doing CPR as soon as he arrived and after he administered electric shocks with a defibrillator, Rubin’s heart started beating again. Rotenberg was soon joined by an intensive care team who administered two additional shocks as Rubin regained consciousness. He was then evacuated to the hospital to recover.
“I have returned to a completely normal life now and I understand that if I had waited a little longer and not dialed 101 for MDA, I might not be here today,” said Rubin.
At the time of his call to MDA’s dispatch center, Rubin, who is just 21 years old, was feeling unwell but didn’t think he needed immediate medical attention. He began feeling worse and worse and thought he might faint. He gathered some strength and moved some furniture around in his home to make noise to wake his family. Rubin also called MDA’s 101 hotline and the dispatcher, Romi Mozes, instructed him to lie down and lift his legs. Rubin then lost consciousness and the next thing he remembers is being brought to the hospital in the Mobile Intensive Care Unit.
A few days later, Rubin was discharged from the hospital and was eager to reunite with the MDA team who saved his life. They met at the MDA station in Jerusalem.
“I am very moved to meet you and thank you,” said Rubin to the team who saved his life. “It’s just a miracle, you were the messengers who saved my life.”
Watch Rubin and Rotenberg being interviewed on Israeli News Channel 12:
