A Jewish Londoner has revealed how Hatzola medics saved her non-Jewish au pair’s life while an NHS ambulance was still en route.
Katherine, from Barnet, was inspired to share her story after Monday’s arson attack targeting four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green.
In the wake of the attack, several far-right and far-left figures on social media have accused the service of being for Jews only, even though it serves all residents of North West London, prompting Katherine to come forward.
She told the JC: “I was living in Hampstead Garden Suburb, which is close to Golders Green, so within the area Hatzola covers, and my au pair dropped a glass in the sink.
“A shard of thick glass ricocheted off and sliced through her arm. She went white, and there was a huge amount of blood.
"I called 999, and they said they would dispatch someone, but there was a wait.
"I attempted a tourniquet myself and did the best I could while I waited.”
But Katherine had also called Hatzola, who arrived whilst she was still on hold to 999.
"They immediately stabilised the situation,” Katherine recounted. “They took her in their ambulance, gave her pain relief applied a proper tourniquet, examined the wound, and they were about to transport her to our local hospital.”
At that point medics from the St John’s Ambulance service, another volunteer organisation supporting the NHS, arrived and lent their assistance too.
"Paramedics confirmed her life was in danger and use of that arm would have suffered, as it severed nerves and an artery, if not for the speed Hatzola had got to her,” Katherine added.
"Hatzola didn’t care she wasn’t Jewish, they are available to anyone.”
Fundraisers set up to help Hatzola recover from the arson have already hit £1.5 million, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that the government will replace the four ambulances destroyed in the fire.
And Laurence Blitz, Chair of Trustees for Hatzola UK, said: “What happened… is shocking in the extreme. The emergency services were magnificent and we are deeply grateful.
"However, our phones haven’t stopped, our volunteers are responding to call-outs, and our service continues unbroken.”
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