Aviv Snior, a paramedic at the Magen David Adom station in Sderot, recounted the events of Black Saturday, October 7, revealing how his own living room unexpectedly transformed into an impromptu emergency room when a critically injured colleague was brought to him. After administering urgent care, Aviv successfully transported his wounded colleague to the hospital.
"The morning started with a massive rocket attack," the paramedic explained. "I received a call from the control room, informing me that the Sderot ambulance station on duty had been targeted."
The dispatcher conveyed that a fellow paramedic named Hananel was en route to Snior's residence seeking assistance. "He came under fire from terrorists. Can you reach him? We're working on sending a team to your location because the Sderot MADA station is under attack," the dispatcher urgently reported.
In the ambulance, Aviv saw his colleague Hananel lying on a stretcher facedown, with two visible bullet entry holes on his back. Snior immediately began addressing the victim's bleeding while maintaining communication with the dispatcher.
"I'm with Hananel now; he was shot in the back. The ambulance is riddled with bullets; it was under fire," Snior informed MADA. Hananel remained conscious but in serious condition.
Suddenly, machine gun fire erupted, prompting Aviv Snior to make the decision to relocate his wounded colleague to his own home. "There are Qassams and groups of terrorists here. I will take him to my home; there are no other options," Snior reported to MADA. He was then instructed to move the victim to a protected room.
"So, my girls are in the bomb shelter ('mamad'), Hananel is in the living room, wounded, and we are assisting him while simultaneously gathering all the necessary equipment to save his life. We retrieved it from the ambulance and gathered what I had," the paramedic explained.
Snior, along with Hananel's partner, continued providing assistance, aiming to keep their colleague alive until additional help arrived. During this critical moment, they were contacted by another medic from the MADA station in Sderot, who arrived in an armored ambulance for evacuation.
"We sent Hananel in an armored car to the hospital, and I stayed in Sderot to continue assisting the victims," Aviv stated.
Hananel has since survived and been discharged from the hospital, but he faces an extended period of rehabilitation. Aviv Snior remains dedicated to his work in Sderot, striving to "help people as best as possible."
