October 7 Survivor Details Harrowing Rescues and Ongoing PTSD Battle

Oz Davidian, a survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack, recounted his experience of rescuing over 120 people from the Nova music festival and surrounding areas. Initially mistaking his symptoms for a heart attack, Davidian was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has been undergoing psychiatric treatment since. He described how, on the morning of October 7th, he left his home in Moshav Maslul after hearing about his sister's plea for help near the Nova party. Driving off-road in his 4x4 pickup truck, he encountered terrified young people fleeing the massacre and began ferrying them to safety, making approximately 15 dangerous trips into the danger zone under fire.

During the rescues, Davidian began taking selfies with survivors, including one famous photo with Major General (res.) Yair Golan. He explained that these photos served a dual purpose: to document who was in the vehicle in case they didn't survive, and to signal the scale of the event and call for reinforcements. He also gave his phone to rescued individuals to contact their families, helping to coordinate aid efforts in nearby moshavim.

Despite rescuing 120 people, Davidian is haunted by the ones he couldn't save, often questioning if he could have done more. He was subsequently called up for reserve duty for nearly four months, assisting security forces in the area, including body recovery. It was during this period, after his initial mission ended, that his PTSD symptoms manifested severely.

Davidian is now in ongoing psychological and psychiatric treatment, including medication, which he credits with helping him cope. He maintains contact with many of the young people he rescued, referring to them as "my children," and notes that many survivors are still struggling to return to their lives. He also acknowledges that his wife and daughters, who experienced the events from their home, are also in therapy.

Looking ahead, Davidian is scheduled to speak at the UN about his experiences. He hopes that in three years, both he and Israel will be more united and less divided, emphasizing that the events of October 7th are too significant to be used for political gain.