A Stick and a Tourniquet Was All He Had

August 2, 2024

Major Evyatar Zytuni is a 26-year-old unit commander in Tzanchanim Brigade.

On October 7th, Evyatar was at home when he received a call from a friend about chaos in the south. Seconds later his deputy commander called him. Evyatar, who was supposed to travel abroad in a military delegation, decided to join his unit instead, already in the Re’im area, where they were engaging in full combat with Hamas.

Receiving information about a terrorist entrenchment in Kibbutz Kisufim, Evyatar coordinated with a local security officer and a Golani commander to divide the sectors. Taking the northeastern area with his unit, they began clearing operations and suddenly came under heavy fire. Evyatar saw dozens of terrorists inside the houses, shooting RPG’s and grenades, and realized the need for precise shooting to avoid civilian casualties, making it a challenging battle.

During the fight, Evyatar was hit by a bullet in the main artery of his right leg. He applied a tourniquet, bit down on a stick he found on the ground, and entered survival mode, doing everything he could to stay alive while a fierce battle raged all around him. After several hours bleeding on the ground, as his friends fell around him, he was evacuated and finally allowed himself to lose consciousness.

When Evyatar arrived at Sheba Medical Center, his condition was dire. Initially, doctors considered amputating his leg due to the severe damage. However, thanks to the exceptional skills and dedication of Sheba’s medical team, they managed to save his leg.

Evyatar woke up ten days later, critically injured, intubated, and ventilated.

As serious as his own situation was, upon regaining consciousness he was informed that six soldiers – close friends of his – were lost in the battle. Some of Israel’s finest, who gave their lives for the country. He realized he was on a new life journey and began to process the loss of his close friends.

Evyatar underwent multiple surgeries, extensive treatments, and a rigorous rehabilitation program, which included physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. The advanced care and cutting-edge technology at Sheba played a crucial role in his recovery, helping him regain mobility and hope for the future. Evyatar put all his efforts into his rehabilitation journey, aiming to learn to walk again and eventually run.

Evyatar’s story is a testament to the life-saving and rehabilitative care provided by Sheba. Sheba is enabling Evyatar to start on a new chapter in his life, one filled with gratitude and determination.

“Thanks to Sheba Medical Center, today I stand on both legs, when it was supposed to be entirely different — they might have amputated my leg. The best of the best—the medical staff, nurses, and rehabilitation team—gave everything for me to succeed and recover optimally. This gave me the willpower to keep moving forward and succeed in my rehabilitation process to this day, never giving up for a moment. It means so much to have such medical support that helps and supports you in everything you need.”

Israel’s heroes deserve the best care, and Sheba Medical Center, with its talented and dedicated staff, provides exactly that.

Am Yisrael Chai.