This afternoon at 12:35 United Hatzalah volunteer Harel Magar was on his way back to Yerushalayim from Beitar Illit when he decided to stop off before Shabbos to Daven at Kever Rachel. After some personal time with “Mama Rochel” he began to return to his vehicle. Someone asked if he knew first aid because someone had fallen on the traffic circle by the Kever. Harel jogged over and alerted United Hatzalah dispatch center of a “Man down at Kever Rachel – details to come”.

When he reached the prone figure he noticed that passersby had raised his legs presuming a fainting spell. A brief check of the man’s absent pulse proved the situation to be more critical. Harel asked if anyone knew CPR, one passerby had been trained in CPR and began chest compressions, Harel alerted dispatch of “Full Code CPR at Kever Rachel” while sprinting back to his vehicle for his rescue bag. Ambucycle medics from Talpiot, Gilo and Baaka began streaming in to assist.

Within 5 minutes 4 United Hatzalah ambucycle medics were in place, 2 shocks were already delivered by one of the defibrillators, an ambulance arrive and integrated with the medics in place while they waited for the intensive care ambulance to arrive. The medics took turns keeping a furious pace of chest compressions, ventilations and additional shocks from the defibrillator. Passersby joined in the battle by poring over their tehillim and siddurim. By the time the intensive care ambulance arrived the man already had a viable pulse and was breathing on his own. The 60 year-old man from Bnei Brak without a family who had come to pour out his heart to “Mama Rochel” had his broken heart mended by the Hatzalah volunteers, the Tefillah brigade and “Mama Rochel” herself.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)