EXCLUSIVE: Shulgoer who suffered heart attack saved by defibrillator his kids campaigned for

A pensioner who suffered a heart attack at synagogue was saved thanks to a fast-thinking pregnant fellow congregant and a defibrillator campaigned for by his family one year ago.

The 77-year-old man collapsed during the main Shabbat service at Beis Gavriel Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in north Hendon.

It was only the quick thinking of a 28-year -old paramedic, who is six months pregnant with her second child, that saved his life.

The woman, who spoke to Jewish News on condition of anonymity, said: “There seemed to be a commotion on the men’s side so I ran over to see if I could help. There was a man slumped in a chair leaning on another man. There was another nurse in attendance who said he could feel a faint pulse. I took the man’s other arm but his pulse had stopped by then.”

She added: “I asked the guys to put him on the floor to start CPR and get me the defibrillator. The other nurse did one round of CPR while I prepared the equipment and attached the pads to his chest. I then started a second round of CPR. Halfway through that round the man’s heart started pumping independently.”

Incredibly, the defibrillator used to save the pensioner’s life had been donated to the synagogue by his children less than 12 months ago.

From the time the man’s heart stopped until the brave duo got it going again was around four minutes. Hatzola, the Jewish community emergency medical response service, arrived just afterwards followed by London Ambulance Service, together with a doctor.

She continues: “The man was taken to hospital and is currently recovering on a cardiac ward awaiting surgery, but he’s alive. The chances of surviving a heart attack outside hospital is said to be around six percent. I hope he makes a full recovery.”