What began as an ordinary trip to the neighborhood grocery store became a life and death situation when Asher Efnizer collapsed on the sidewalk. Thanks to the quick-thinking storekeeper who called Magen David Adom, Efnizer lived and recently had the opportunity to reunite with the MDA team who saved his life.
When he noticed Efnizer lifeless on the ground, the shopkeeper quickly called MDA whose dispatcher instructed him on how to perform CPR on the 55-year-old Efnizer while immediately sending medics on Medicycle and in a Mobile Intensive Care Unit. Adiel Azoulay, the EMT who arrived first, continued with advanced resuscitation while administering electric shocks from a defibrillator.
Azoulay was soon joined by EMT Maoz Viberman and paramedic Hadar Koltker who brought back Efnizer’s heartbeat with another electric shock, before transporting him to the hospital.
Efnizer went home after recuperating in the hospital. He recently had the chance to meet the medics who saved his life at the MDA station in Netivot.
“I thought it was just another normal day,” recalled Efnizer. “No one thinks he’ll go into cardiac arrest when he takes a walk to the grocery store near his house. I have no words to thank you for acting so quickly, Efnizer said. “I am so happy to see you today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing you smiling at me today because the last time we met, you were unconscious. The only sign of life you gave us was your heart beginning to beat again after strenuous resuscitation efforts,” said Azoulay. “I see you with sparkling eyes and I’m just as excited as you.”
