Experienced Diver Suffers Heart Attack at 25 Meters, Rescued in Eilat
Translated & summarized from Panet by baba
An experienced diver suffered a heart attack at a depth of 25 meters off Eilat and was treated at Yoseftal Medical Center. Led by Dr. Zahir Igbaria, the treatment included cardiac stabilization and time in a hyperbaric chamber. The diver, who also risked decompression sickness due to a rapid ascent, was later transferred for further evaluation. He credited Dr. Igbaria with saving his life, and medical experts urged divers to listen to their bodies.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- An experienced diver suffered a heart attack at 25 meters depth off Eilat.
- Dr. Zahir Igbaria led the medical team that treated the diver at Yoseftal Medical Center.
- The diver received cardiac stabilization and hyperbaric treatment for potential decompression sickness.
- The diver expressed gratitude to Dr. Igbaria, stating he "saved my life."
- Medical experts urged divers to heed their bodies' signals and seek prompt medical attention.
An experienced diver, identified only as Yossi, suffered a severe heart attack while diving to a depth of approximately 25 meters off the coast of Eilat. The diver, who has decades of experience, experienced sudden shortness of breath, a feeling of suffocation, and chest pressure. He managed to ascend to about 10 meters, inflated his buoyancy control device, and surfaced rapidly without performing a safety stop. Upon reaching the shore, Yossi was immediately taken to the emergency department at Yoseftal Medical Center, part of the Clalit Health Services group. Medical examinations revealed he had suffered an acute NSTEMI heart attack with significant damage to his heart muscle. His rapid ascent also posed a risk of decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends."
Dr. Zahir Igbaria, director of the Emergency Medicine Department and a diving medicine specialist at Yoseftal, led the medical team that treated Yossi. The intensive care included stabilizing his cardiac condition and several hours in the hospital's hyperbaric chamber to address the risks associated with his rapid ascent. Following stabilization, Yossi was transferred to a hospital in central Israel for further cardiac evaluations.
Yossi expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Igbaria and the medical staff, stating, "Dr. Zahir Igbaria saved my life." He described the doctor's dedication and meticulous care throughout his treatment and transfer.
Dr. Igbaria emphasized the physiological strain diving places on the heart and respiratory system due to pressure changes and immersion. He highlighted the complexity of treating a heart attack at depth, requiring simultaneous management of the cardiac event and potential decompression sickness. He urged all divers to heed their bodies' signals and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing unusual symptoms.
Clalit spokesperson Ihab Halabi praised the medical teams, stating that Dr. Igbaria and the Yoseftal staff exemplify the professional excellence, dedication, and humanity of Clalit's personnel.
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