Survivor Recounts Partner's Death During Hamas Attack
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Sivan Simcha-Cohen recounted how her partner, Yaniv Sarudi, was killed while they were working at the Nova music festival on October 7th. Sarudi continued to drive their escape vehicle despite being shot three times, saving Simcha-Cohen and six others before succumbing to his injuries. Simcha-Cohen, who was also wounded, is undergoing physical and psychological treatment to cope with the trauma and loss. She is pursuing a degree in psychology and hopes to rebuild her life.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Sivan Simcha-Cohen described her partner Yaniv Sarudi's death during the October 7th Hamas attack at the Nova festival.
- Sarudi continued driving their escape vehicle after being shot three times, saving Simcha-Cohen and six others.
- Simcha-Cohen was also wounded and spent hours trapped under fire before being evacuated.
- She is undergoing physical therapy and psychological treatment for trauma and loss.
- Simcha-Cohen is pursuing a degree in psychology while coping with the ongoing impact of the event.
Sivan Simcha-Cohen described the horrific events of October 7th, during which her partner, Yaniv Sarudi, was killed while they were working at a music festival. Sarudi, a production assistant, and Simcha-Cohen, who worked in operations and as an extra, were a well-known "power couple" in the production world and had fallen in love on a film set.
On October 7th, they were working at the Nova festival. Sarudi managed the security team's logistics, and Simcha-Cohen managed operations. They had arrived three days prior. When the attack began, they helped the wounded before attempting to flee in a car with eight other people. During their escape towards the Gaza Division, they encountered four Hamas terrorist squads. Simcha-Cohen was shot in the leg, and Sarudi was hit by three bullets. Despite his severe injuries, Sarudi continued to drive, fighting to save everyone in the vehicle, ultimately sacrificing his life.
Simcha-Cohen recounted that after reaching the Gaza Division, she saw Sarudi one last time. He told her he loved her and apologized, an apology she interpreted as him regretting not being able to save them all. She spent ten hours alone in a room at the base with a fractured leg, under heavy fire, before soldiers evacuated her. She is still undergoing physical therapy and psychological treatment to cope with the trauma and loss.
Simcha-Cohen is pursuing a degree in psychology and is trying to rebuild her life, but the loss of Sarudi, whom she describes as her "whole world," continues to deeply affect her. She also mourns the loss of a friend, Shirale Golan, who died by suicide. Simcha-Cohen hopes to find love again but is currently focused on healing and learning to live with her grief.
