Medics treated patients after missile blast
A 42-year-old paramedic in Kyiv continued working on injured civilians despite sustaining chest and hand injuries during a strike on October 26.
By Sienna Foster ·
For the two men inside the ambulance, the vehicle meant to carry them to safety became a shield. When Russian missiles struck Kyiv on the evening of October 26, the blast wave shattered the windows of their emergency vehicle. The 42-year-old paramedic and his 49-year-old colleague were injured by the debris and shockwave. Despite their wounds, the paramedic stayed at the impact site to treat other civilians.
The crew had just completed a call and was returning to the vehicle when the first explosion occurred. The shockwave broke the glass and injured both men. Upon hearing a second detonation from a missile strike, they took cover beneath the chassis of the ambulance. The Kyiv Centre of Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine noted that the vehicle, which they use daily to save lives, protected them during the attack.
The paramedic sustained a blunt chest injury, a laceration to his left hand, and acoustic barotrauma. The emergency medical technician suffered explosive trauma. Even with these injuries, the medic continued assisting people hurt at the strike site. Both crew members were later transported to a hospital for treatment.
The attacks on the evening of October 26 and the early hours of October 27 killed a 46-year-old woman and injured 15 others. Emergency workers also rescued two dogs from the site. One dog was pulled from the rubble of a damaged building. The Kyiv City State Administration's Department of Health issued a statement thanking the medics for their professionalism, courage, and dedication.
The department emphasized that emergency medical workers operate in dangerous conditions daily. Officials stated that the safety of these workers and their ability to return home after every call remain extremely important. The department wished both men a speedy recovery.
Russian forces launched the missile strike on Kyiv during the evening of October 26 and into the night of October 27. The impact resulted in the death of one resident and injuries to fifteen others. The medical team’s actions occurred during this specific window of attacks on the capital.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
