From ambulance to helicopter (archives)
Photo: Avi Mualem
Patient transferred from Syria to Israel
Young Druze man studying dentistry in Damascus suffers brain hemorrhage, rushed to Haifa hospital through Quneitra Crossing
An 18-year-old Druze from Majdal Shams was transferred Friday into Israel through the Quneitra Crossing in the Golan Heights, after suffering a brain hemorrhage while studying in Syria.
The patient was then taken via helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
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"His family was informed of the incident last Saturday, and he has since been hospitalized at Al Shami Hospital in Syria, waiting to be transferred to Israel.
"As a regional council we offered the family support with the help of the social services department, and also appealed to Israeli elements in an effort to obtain a crossing permit for urgent medical treatment in Israel," he added.
Medical emergency chopper at scene (Photo:Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)
On Thursday, the family was informed that the Defense, Health and Interior Ministries authorized all the necessary permits in order to transfer the young man – who is in serious condition – into Israel.
However, shortly before crossing the border, international organizations announced that they had not completed all the necessary preparations, and the mission was delayed by a few hours.
IDF officials stressed that even though the border crossing closes at 6 pm daily, the post is manned 24-hours-a-day and could be opened for an authorized humanitarian crossing in a relatively short period of time.
After finally crossing into Israel, a Magen David Adom ambulance took the young man to a Lahak Aviation helicopter, which flew him to Rambam Medical Center.
"It cost more than NIS 30,000 (about $8,300), and because HMO insurance does not cover aerial evacuations and the State does not include it in its health services, the family had a hard time raising the money," said abu Salah.
"Fortunately, many village residents came to their aid, and we hope we will be able to save this dear man's life," he concluded.
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