Nissim Sarusi, MDA Paramedic in Sharon Region - October 7th Heroes
October 7th Heroes: Nissim Sarusi, MDA Paramedic in Sharon Region
"On October 7th, 7:30 in the morning, I was taking part in the Simchat Torah celebrations, when I received a call to report to Netanya station. I dropped everything immediately, took my son back home and headed out to the south, along with my team, still wearing festive clothes.
We arrived at Ofakim station at ten in the morning, still oblivious of what it is we're about to face. The initial call we received was of gunfire casualties. We were on our way to the scene, when a police vehicle stopped us. Three Special Forces officers came out, warning us of gunfights nearby, and escorted us to the scene to ensure our safety.
Four victims were rescued out of the gunfight and carried to us. We rapidly provided lifesaving treatment and evacuated them to Soroka hospital.
Reports of wounded kept coming in, and so as soon as we transferred the patients to hospital we went back into the inferno.
A seriously injured Special Forces officer was brought to our MICU in Ofakim. I saw mortal fear in his eyes. After I successfully stabilized his condition he smiled back at me in gratitude. That smile he had on his face is something I will never forget.
We evacuated the officer to the hospital, then headed back to the battlefield with no hesitation.
At Patish intersection we run into two further victims who were seriously injured by an RPG.
We stopped their bleeding and after a quick examination I decided with the cooperation of the MDA dispatch center it would be best to transfer the victims by the MDA helicopter.
While sirens echoed at the back, we transported the casualties to the helicopter, and in a couple of minutes they were already back up in the air.
One patient after the other, my clothes kept soaking with blood. I struggled to comprehend what it was that we were facing, only there was no time to delve into it then. And just like that we left to attend to the soldiers once again.
We arrived to a battlefield where a fight between the IDF and Hamas took place. Three soldiers were severely injured.
We treated their wounds, then I noticed that one of the soldiers, one who was shot in his shoulder by an AK-47, hadn't stopped bleeding, despite the bandage.
So I decided to actively stop his bleeding with my own hands. I dug my finger to the source of the bleeding and pressed as hard as I could. Half an hour, throughout the whole transfer till we arrived the hospital, I had my hand stuck inside his shoulder.
It's 9pm and the smell of blood hasn't left my hands yet. We transferred our last patient from Soroka Hospital to Meir hospital. His mother, after witnessing so much, did not leave her son's side throughout the whole time. Time and again she thanked for keeping her son alive.
