Diver Suffers Heart Attack 25 Meters Deep in Eilat, Treated at Yoseftal Hospital
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
A veteran diver suffered a heart attack at a depth of 25 meters in Eilat and was treated at Yoseftal Hospital. Dr. Zahir Igbaria led the medical team that stabilized the diver's cardiac condition and treated him in a hyperbaric chamber. The diver, who also risked decompression sickness due to a rapid ascent, expressed gratitude to Dr. Igbaria for saving his life. Health officials are using the incident to remind divers to listen to their bodies and seek medical help.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A diver suffered a heart attack at 25 meters depth in Eilat and received treatment at Yoseftal Hospital.
- Dr. Zahir Igbaria led the medical team that treated the diver's cardiac condition and decompression risks.
- The diver, identified as Yossi, experienced severe breathing difficulties and chest pressure during his dive.
- He was treated in a hyperbaric chamber for hours before being transferred for further cardiac evaluation.
- The diver credited Dr. Igbaria with saving his life and urged others to heed their bodies' signals.
- Clalit Health Services praised the medical team's professionalism and dedication in handling the complex case.
A seasoned diver, identified only as Yossi, experienced 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, suddenly felt intense shortness of breath, a choking sensation, 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 transported to the emergency department at Yoseftal Hospital, part of the Clalit Health Services network. Urgent examinations revealed he had suffered an acute NSTEMI heart attack, accompanied by elevated cardiac muscle damage markers. His rapid ascent also increased his risk of decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends."
The medical team at Yoseftal, led by Dr. Zahir Igbaria, Director of the Emergency Medicine Department and a diving medicine specialist, provided comprehensive treatment. This included stabilizing his cardiac condition and extensive 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 evaluation.
Yossi expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Igbaria and the medical staff, stating, "Dr. Zahir Igbaria saved my life." He recounted the doctor's exceptional dedication and meticulous care throughout his treatment and transfer. Dr. Igbaria emphasized the complex medical challenge of treating a heart attack at depth, requiring simultaneous management of cardiac issues and decompression sickness risks. He urged all divers to heed their bodies' signals and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing unusual symptoms.
Ihab Halabi, spokesperson for Clalit, praised the medical team's professionalism, dedication, and humanity, highlighting them as a source of pride for the organization.
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