Ephraim (Effi) Gadassi, a volunteer medic at United Hatzalah, was killed early Friday morning in a car accident on his way to save lives in Jerusalem.
The incident took place around 3:30 AM, after a medical emergency had been reported on Menashe ben Israel Street in downtown Jerusalem.
Police reported that “during the night, on Menashe ben Israel Street, a car accident occurred between a taxi and a scooter, during which apparently the rider of scooter lost control and deviated from his course, colliding with a taxi that was driving in the opposite direction. The scooter rider was evacuated by MDA in critical condition to Shaarei Tzedek [Medical Center] where he was pronounced dead. The taxi driver was detained for questioning.”
According to United Hatzalah, Ephraim, married with three young children, was devoted, helped many, and saved lives. “He was an example of volunteering for the public at any time.”
United Hatzalah president Eli Beer addressed the volunteers saying, “Dear and beloved volunteers, I ask you all in these difficult moments to take upon ourselves for the sake of the late Ephraim to strengthen ourselves in offering free brotherly love to every person and to continue to go out on each emergency call with renewed dedication, despite the enormous difficulty at this time, because that was Ephraim’s way.”
“We accompany the Gadassi family and support their every necessity,” Beer added.