MDA Paramedic Yossi Halabi, One of the First at the Scene of the Disaster in Meron, Recalls:
"The Music Continued in the Background, You Can't Move Right or Left - and People are Crushed to Death"
Magen David Adom paramedic, Yossi Halabi, a resident of Kfar Tavor, one of the first to arrive at the scene of the disaster on Mount Meron, recounted the tragic event:
"Shortly before 01:00 at night, we received a call about a number of injured in need of assistance. I moved forward. And from step to step - the reporting intensified and the number of injured increased. I led the team with seven EMTs and five paramedics and we realized we were entering a scene of disaster."
On the magnitude of the tragedy and the first moments, he added: "We were actually the first to arrive at the scene. The sights were very harsh, shouts and people were crushed, at first we thought a grandstand had collapsed. We worked in unprecedented crowds. We screamed for people to step aside and just saw a pile of people lying on top of each other. I realized the magnitude of the matter within seconds, every moment of resuscitation and every moment of rescuing an injured man. "One by one and take care, while more and more forces arrived in the arena. The music was still playing in the background for the first few minutes and it was impossible to move right or left."
About the day after, he recounted: "Actually my shift continued into the disaster - when I was in the MDA helicopter. The feeling was very difficult, taking time to contain and understand. I keep reliving the event and wondering if I could have done something better. I talk to my team, making sure everyone is psychologically okay. It's very difficult to get back to normal after such a disaster."
