Jerusalem firefighters received a call for a fire on Efrata Street in the Arnona neighborhood of the capital shortly after 2:00 PM. When the first firetrucks arrived on the scene, they saw smoke and flames billowing out of the four-story residential structure. Firemen immediately began sweeping the building to determine if anyone was trapped inside.

They found one man trapped inside who was unconscious by the time they reached him. When they brought the victim outside, they began CPR and he was transported to Shaare Zedek Hospital in critical condition. There were no other persons found to be trapped inside.

MDA Paramedic Yoshi Amit said: “When we arrived at the building, we joined the firefighters who rescued a man about 50-year-old who was unconscious and in cardiac arrest. He sustained severe smoke inhalation. We gave him medical treatment and carried out advanced resuscitation operations using special drugs and he was evacuated in a critical condition while continuing to perform resuscitation enroute to the hospital.”

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly following his arrival.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: MDA & ZAKA)