On Saturday night, a woman in her 30s was walking her dog on the Tel Aviv Promenade when she suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. 

United Hatzalah volunteer EMTs Ariel Vexler and Shimmy Kfilof were responding to another, less serious emergency when passersby alerted them to the unconscious woman just 50 meters away. While Vexler remained with the first patient, Kfilof went over to assess the situation, finding the woman with no pulse and not breathing. 

Kfilof immediately notified dispatch, initiated CPR, and connected a defibrillator. Vexler, who had run over as soon as he handed off his first patient to an ambulance crew, opened the woman’s airway and provided assisted ventilation. 

More first responders arrived at the scene and took turns performing chest compressions while Kfilof opened an IV line. Approximately seven minutes later, an intensive care ambulance arrived at the scene. The paramedic began providing advanced life support, including intubation and medication, while CPR continued. Four minutes later, the woman’s pulse was restored. She was transported to the hospital for further treatment.

“This one was particularly emotional for me, as I recognized the patient as someone who I know from the neighborhood. In fact, we used to walk our dogs together,” said Vexler after the incident. “I truly hope she makes a full recovery.”