Doctors fighting for critically wounded soldier's life
Parents of soldier critically wounded by tank during training exercise involving Golani, 188th Armored Brigade troops say they know he will never be the same again; exercise suspended
The family of a soldier critically wounded in an IDF training accident on Monday is praying for a miracle, but understands that his case is desperate.
The parents of the Golani soldier who sustained serious injuries after being run over by a tank in a fire practice area during training in the Golan Heights arrived at the Rambam Medical Center where the soldier is currently being cared for in the ICU.
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His situation continues to be critical. "They told us that they were lying down and a tank track hit him in the head," the soldier's mother said. Monday after being hit by a tank during a training exercise.
The scene (Photo: News 24)
The accident occurred during a company and squadron commander course in the Golan. The exercise involved Golani and 188th armored Brigade.
An initial investigation revealed that the soldier, serving in a medical position in the 51st squadron was run over by a 188th Armored Brigade Merkava 3 tank in his upper torso.
One of the leads being pursued is the possibility that the soldier fell asleep on the ground in one of the maneuvers' rendezvous points, and the team driving the tank did not see him.
The soldier was given initial treatment at the scene and then medevaced to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. Hospital sources said he was admitted to the ICU in critical condition and has been sedated for treatment.
'Everything was fine in Gaza'
His parents have been told that he is suffering from brain damage. "The doctors didn't delude us, they didn't tell us he came out unscathed. He will most likely suffer from (brain) damage," his mother noted.
The soldier completed the IDF medics' course three weeks ago. "He was in Gaza and everything was fine there," his mother said.
Head of the Rambam Medical Center Trauma Unit Dr. Hani Bachos said that the soldier "sustained a serious head wound and bruising to his facial bones, together with a serious chest injury… After a CT scan he was sent into to the operating room and is now in the ICU where doctors are fighting for his life."
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that "Following the incident, all training exercises in the Golan Heights were suspended, pending the inquiry's conclusion on the safety procedures in place during joint Infantry-Armored exercise."
Maor Buchnik and Ahiya Raved contributed to this report
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