A wedding celebration in central Israel nearly turned into tragedy Thursday evening when the chosson’s father suddenly collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest, prompting a frantic effort by wedding guests and emergency medical personnel to save his life. Following prolonged resuscitation efforts and four electric shocks, the approximately 60-year-old man regained a pulse and consciousness and was rushed to the hospital in stable condition.

The frightening incident occurred at a wedding venue in Israel’s Shfela region, where family members and guests had gathered to celebrate the young couple’s marriage. Shortly after the festivities began, the chosson’s father collapsed, sending shockwaves through the gathering.

At approximately 6:22 p.m., Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency dispatch center received a report that a man had lost consciousness at the wedding. With every moment critical, dispatch personnel immediately began instructing those at the scene on how to perform lifesaving resuscitation.

MDA emergency dispatcher Iyas Azbarga and paramedic Shoval Remez guided the guests over the telephone while an ambulance crew was dispatched to the venue.

Using MDA’s emergency response systems, the dispatchers determined that a defibrillator was available inside the wedding hall. They directed the guests to retrieve the device and begin using it while continuing CPR.

The guests responded immediately, administering three electric shocks with the defibrillator before the arrival of emergency medical personnel.

When MDA paramedics and emergency medical technicians reached the hall, they took over the resuscitation efforts, providing advanced cardiac care, including an additional electric shock and emergency medications.

After sustained efforts, the man’s heartbeat was restored, and he regained consciousness, bringing an extraordinary measure of relief amid what had become a terrifying ordeal for the family.

Once his condition had stabilized, the father was transported directly to the cardiac catheterization unit at Kaplan Medical Center for further treatment. He was reported to be in stable condition.

MDA motorcycle emergency responders Eden Sinai and Meir Avivi, together with paramedics Moran Ben David and Chen Vermus, director of MDA’s paramedic training school, described the intense rescue effort.

“When we arrived at the wedding venue, we immediately understood that this was a complex incident, with the groom’s father having collapsed during the wedding,” the responders said.

“The people at the scene acted quickly and began resuscitation using a defibrillator that was available in the hall, after receiving instructions from MDA’s 101 dispatch center. We continued prolonged advanced resuscitation efforts, including an electric shock, resuscitation medications, and lifesaving medical treatment. After extensive efforts, we succeeded in restoring his pulse, and he regained consciousness. This is an especially emotional moment, because our goal is to save lives, and in this case, also to allow a father to return to his family after such a dramatic incident on the day of his son’s celebration.”

Additional emergency service reports identified the location as a wedding hall in the Kannot industrial area near Gedera. Hatzalah volunteers also participated in the emergency response, with responders reporting that the man had been unconscious, without a detectable pulse or breathing, when lifesaving efforts were underway.

MDA emphasized that the presence of a defibrillator at the venue, together with the willingness of guests to begin CPR immediately, played an important role in the successful resuscitation.

The organization urged the public to familiarize themselves with the locations of defibrillators in wedding halls, shuls, and other public facilities. In the event of a sudden collapse, bystanders should immediately call MDA’s 101 emergency number and follow the instructions provided by dispatchers while awaiting medical assistance.

{Matzav.com}