What began as an ordinary shift for Shoval Katzin and Sigi Edri, EMTs with Israel's national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA), quickly turned into a dramatic rescue when they were dispatched to a residential building in the northern city of Hadera following a report of someone trapped in an elevator.
When the team arrived in the lobby, they found a small dog named Cora hanging outside the elevator after her harness became caught as the car moved upward. The elevator doors had closed while Cora remained outside, lifting her off the ground and leaving her suspended by the harness.
(Photo: Magen David Adom)
“When we arrived with MDA first responder Majdi Abu Tuama, we found Cora in critical condition,” Katzin recalled. “Her tongue had already turned purple, her eyes were bulging and bloodshot, and she was struggling to breathe.”
The responders managed to force the elevator doors open just wide enough for Katzin to cut through the harness and free the dog. “As soon as I cut the harness, the elevator continued upward, allowing Daniel, Cora’s owner, to exit safely and unharmed,” she said.
But the emergency was not over. Moments after being freed, Cora’s heart stopped. Katzin, who is trained to perform CPR on people, immediately began resuscitating the dog. “A few years ago, outside my work at MDA, I learned how to perform CPR on dogs, but I had never actually needed to use those skills,” she said. “Once I realized Daniel did not require medical treatment, I fought for Cora’s life just as I would for any other patient.”
Katzin said the resuscitation lasted only a few minutes, but felt far longer. “It may have been just a few minutes, but they felt like an eternity until her heart started beating again,” she said. Cora regained consciousness, and Katzin continued administering oxygen until the dog’s breathing stabilized enough for her owner to take her to a veterinarian for further treatment.
MDA EMT Shoval Katzin giving Cora oxygen
(Photo: Magen David Adom)
“If we can help, we always will, whether the patient has two legs or four,” Katzin said. She also urged dog owners to remain especially cautious near elevators. “Keep the leash short and your dog close,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful this story had a happy ending.”
Daniel thanked the responders for their rapid intervention. “The MDA team arrived incredibly quickly and did exactly what needed to be done in those critical moments,” he said. “They are the reason Cora is alive today. I cannot thank them enough.”