MDA israel

As Muhammad Azbarga (21) from Kseife swam in the sea in Eilat, he got caught in strong currents, was dragged out to sea and began to drown. Bystanders who witnessed what was happening called MDA's 101 Dispatch Center and also swam in to rescue him from the water. 

MDA Paramedics Aviran Ashkenazi, Alon Yosef and Ariel Oslander, and EMT Maayan Oren arrived at the scene and began providing life-saving treatment before conveying him to Yoseftal in critical condition, sedated and ventilated. The doctors at Yoseftal Hospital continued fighting for his life until he regained consciousness a few days later. 

While he was hospitalized, Muhammad realized how vital MDA's actions were in saving his life, and then decided that he too wanted to save lives, and so joined an MDA EMTs course. Recently, he successfully completed the course. About a year after the initial drowning, Muhammad travelled back to Eilat to meet Maayan, the EMT on the team that saved his life, but this time he too was in an MDA uniform. 

MDA EMT Muhammad Azbarga: "When I woke up in hospital, they told me that the MDA team saved my life. They told my family that I would probably not survive, but than I saw my parents' faces when I woke up. I decided that I wanted to do the EMT course and save lives myself, just like my life was saved. Today, when I'm in the ambulance and attending someone in a serious condition, I can tell them from my own experience that they must never give up, and should always remain positive. It was very emotional for me to return to Eilat and meet those who saved me. I don't have the words to thank them."