Israeli Team Flies Donor Heart from Cyprus for Successful Transplant After Two-Year Wait

A young donor's heart from Cyprus was flown to Israel and successfully transplanted into a 45-year-old woman who had waited nearly two years for a heart transplant. The operation began after a call to Israel's National Transplant Center on the morning of August 17, 2026, informing them of the available heart from a young woman who died in a car accident in Cyprus.

The Israeli medical team from Beilinson Hospital was quickly dispatched to Nicosia, Cyprus, where they coordinated a complex logistical operation to retrieve the heart. Despite challenges including the peak summer holiday season and difficulties securing a suitable air ambulance, a larger plane was found with emergency budget approval. The team also arranged security, customs clearance, and transport between the airport and hospital.

Four transplant teams operated simultaneously in Nicosia that night, with the Israeli team focusing on the heart. After the heart was removed, a helicopter transferred the Israeli team directly to Larnaca Airport to save time. The team landed in Israel at 7:40 a.m., and the heart arrived at Beilinson Hospital by 8:23 a.m. The transplant surgery concluded successfully just before noon, approximately 26 hours after the initial notification.

Dr. Tamar Ashkenazi, director of the National Transplant Center, emphasized the rapid coordination and precise teamwork required for the operation. The longstanding cooperation between Israel and Cyprus in organ transplantation was highlighted, including personal bonds between medical teams. The Israeli team maintained a tradition of bringing treats for the Cypriot surgical staff. A message of thanks was sent to the Cypriot team shortly after the successful surgery.