An Israeli ship’s officer who fell ill aboard a tanker on route from Eilat to the Persian Gulf, was given emergency treatment by the physician of a Russian ship and then flown to a hospital in one of the Arab Emirates where doctors performed surgery that saved his life.
The incident, reported in Al Hamishmar, involved Ze’ev Leibovitz, 26, second officer aboard the tanker which carried no doctor. According to the account, Leibovitz developed pains in the lower abdomen. A medical distress call was sent out and the nearest vessel, a Russian ship, changed course and reached the tanker from which the ill man was transferred.
The ship was not equipped for surgery and her Master accordingly radioed a hospital in an Arab Emirate, explaining in his message that the patient was an Israeli. The hospital replied that it made no difference and a helicopter was sent out to pick up Leibovitz. After successful surgery he was flown to London to complete his convalescence and has since returned home.
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