Eleven runners were injured Sunday morning during the Tiberias marathon race, which had been postponed last week due to severe weather conditions, Israel’s Channel 2 News reported. Two runners were severely injured and underwent resuscitation treatments. Nine others were lightly and moderately injured.
One runner, 40, felt ill during the run and arrived at the MDA clinic that was built on the finish line of the race, where he collapsed. The paramedics performed CPR and evacuated him to hospital in serious condition.
Another runner, 35, suffered a heat stroke during the race. An MDA paramedic identified his confused behavior as a sign of a heat stroke, gave him first aid and with the help of other paramedics evacuated him to the clinic and from there to hospital in serious condition.
“As part of MDA’s preparations for the Marathon’s medical security, we deployed ambulances, mobile intensive care vehicles and MDA motorcycles along the race’s path,” said Shimon Bismut, an MDA paramedic stationed at the race. “Near Zinabberay Beach, I saw a runner pacing about, confused, and showing signs of a heat stroke. I immediately put him in an intensive care unit and, while applying first aid, quickly evacuated him to the clinic where we continued the life-saving treatment, which included an ice bath to lower his body temperature. He was evacuated to hospital in serious condition, with artificial respiration.”