One year ago, 21-year-old Mohammed Azbarga was swept up by a strong current at a beach in Eilat and began to drown. Passersby called MDA’s 101 hotline, while others swam out to rescue him.
MDA paramedics Aviran Ashkenazi, Alon Yosef, and Ariel Auslander, and MDA EMT Maayan Oren arrived on the scene and immediately began lifesaving treatment. Mohammed was taken to Yoseftal Hospital in serious condition where he was anesthetized and placed on a ventilator. After several days, he ultimately regained consciousness and recovered.
During his hospitalization, Mohammed began to understand the significance of the role MDA played in saving his life.
“When I woke up in the hospital, they told me how the MDA team saved my life. They told my family that I probably wouldn’t survive. I decided that I wanted to take a paramedic course and save lives like they saved mine,” explained Mohammad.
“Today, when I’m in an ambulance and someone arrives in serious condition, I can tell them from experience to never give up and always be optimistic.”
Mohammad returned to Eilat a year after the incident and met with Maayan, the EMT from the team that treated him; this time, Mohammad was wearing an MDA uniform himself. “I was very excited to return to Eilat and meet those who saved me. I have no words to thank them.”
