Motorist Suffers Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Ramat Gan, Successfully Resuscitated By EMS

On Monday morning just after 11:00 a.m., a man in his 40s was driving down Heftman Street in Ramat Gan when he began to feel unwell. According to eye-witnesses at the scene, he stopped his vehicle, got out, and then proceeded to collapse on the roadway. Worried passersby called emergency services for help.

United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Elie Berrebi was at his home a few blocks away spending some quality time with his family when he received the emergency alert. He quickly apologized to his wife and rushed out to respond to the emergency. He jumped in his car and drove to the scene of the incident arriving just a few minutes later.

A first responder who had been closer to the scene initiated CPR and Elie joined in taking over chest compressions and alternating providing assisted breathing. A defibrillator was attached and the unconscious man received one shock. After a few more rounds of compressions, the mobile intensive care unit arrived and their team also joined the effort administering medication in order to try and stabilize the patient. Twenty minutes after the emergency call went out, the combined team succeeded in bringing back the man’s pulse and stabilizing him enough to be transported to the hospital.

“It is a terrific feeling to save a life,” Elie reflected after the fact. “It was lucky that the man had the wherewithal to pull over before he collapsed. When suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, not everyone is able to do so. That, together with the quick intervention he received at the scene probably saved his life. I am glad that I was able to be there today and be a part of saving this man’s life. I hope that he makes a full recovery and goes on to live a long and healthy life.”