Last month, in the midst of the Maccabiah events in Netanya and during a game against the Colombian national team a player from the Australian football team collapsed, thankfully Magen David Adom were there to save his life!

MDA team – emergency medical medics Shoval Katzin and Yitzhak Peretz noticed the commotion in the grass area and rushed towards the footballer, they noticed that he had suffered cardiac arrest and they had to act quickly and dispatched an intensive care ambulance to the scene. At the same time, Shoval and Yitzhak began to perform resuscitation operations using the defibrillator. They gave the Australian player two electric shocks – and his heart started beating again. When the ICU team arrived – paramedics Israel Dahari, Orian Lukatz and Tomer Kohlberg – the footballer had already regained consciousness.

This week, the MDA team and the Australian team player and his wife met for an exciting closing of the circle, during which he presented them with official shirts of the Maccabiah events. During the encounter, the Australian footballer said: “I don’t remember what happened but they told me minute by minute how I got to have my life for the second time in the middle of a football field. You brought me back to life and we will always be connected. The biggest thank you is to all of you, you are amazing and thank you very much.”

MDA paramedic Orian Lukatz: “I am so excited to see you here today standing on your feet. I remember the worry you had in the ICU that your family had almost lost you. And today, when you’re here in Israel with your wife, and the children at home in Australia are waiting for you – that’s what gives us, the paramedics who treated you, the strength to keep saving lives. I must mention to the Maccabiah management that even though the procedures did not require placing the MDA team on the field – they chose to invite us to medically secure the game, a decision that undoubtedly saved your life. We are all looking forward to meeting you at the next Maccabiah in 4 years on the field.”

It is thanks to donations from members of our community like you that MDA is able to save lives!

Visit www.magendavidadom.com.au to make your donation count!

#savinglives #itsonourblood #australianjewishcommunity Maccabiah – מכביה