Hatzola Edgware dedicates new ambulance ... that comes to the rescue on its way home

A brand-new ambulance was instrumental in coming to the aid of someone in distress … while returning to base after being dedicated at an annual dinner.

The paramedics were on their way to the Hatzola station in Edgware when they came across an unresponsive man on the side of the road. 

The pair driving the vehicle noticed the man, who was “in a very serious state”, and sprang into action before transporting him safely to hospital.

“There’s no doubt that due to our immediate intervention, we saved his life,” a team member of Hatzola Edgware told the JC. “We don’t even know if anyone else had called an ambulance for him because he was alone and it was so late at night.”

After the man was stable and safely in the brand-new vehicle, a member of Hatzola Edgware called the nearest hospital to inform them they were on their way, and a medical team was waiting for them on arrival. “It was a real team effort,” he told the JC. “The whole incident speaks to the importance and seriousness of what we do at Hatzola Edgware.”

The brand-new ambulance, donated in memory of David and Norma Hamling, has become the fourth ambulance in the Hatzola Edgware fleet and has, in the week since being dedicated, been called out on at least four occasions.

“The impact of this fourth ambulance is great,” the team member said. “We don’t need four at all times, but I would say a couple of times a week, all four ambulances are out at the same time, which makes having that fourth vehicle so key to our mission of saving lives.”

Earlier in the evening, Hatzola Edgware marked its tenth anniversary with a sold-out dinner at London’s RAF Museum, featuring guest speaker Douglas Murray.

The evening brought together local rabbonim, community leaders, supporters and Hatzola’s dedicated volunteer medics and call handlers to celebrate a decade of lifesaving service to residents of Edgware, Mill Hill and Stanmore.

The evening included live performances by local talents Rafi Sandford and Aron Cooperman, with violist Imogen Bloom. Rabbi Y.Y. Shochet of Mill Hill paid tribute to Hatzola’s volunteers for their selfless, round-the-clock commitment to the community.

Annual dinner of Hatzola Edgware (Credit: Hatzola Edgware)[Missing Credit]

A short film was shown telling the story of David Fox, who survived a life-threatening emergency during Kol Nidre night, thanks to Hatzola Edgware volunteers. Speaking at the dinner, David said: “I can categorically state that if it wasn’t for Hatzola Edgware, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Dr Asher Lewinsohn, clinical lead of Hatzola Edgware, who led David’s care that night, made an appeal supporting Hatzola’s lifesaving work.

Douglas Murray, in conversation with Dov Forman, expressed admiration for Hatzola’s mission. “These are people who drop everything, at any moment, to save a life. That’s the Jewish value of life in action.”

Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was unable to attend in person but sent a video message praising Murray for his long-standing support of Israel and thanking Hatzola’s volunteers for their dedication. She presented Murray with a commemorative Hatzola silver radio, inspired by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s gesture of gifting a gold beeper to President Trump to symbolise “answering the call” of the Jewish people.

Douglas Murray in conversation with Dov Forman at the Hatzola Edgware tenth anniversary dinner (Credit: Hatzola Edgware)[Missing Credit]

Guests enjoyed a Q&A session with Murray and received signed copies of his latest book, Democracies and Death Cults: Israel, Hamas and the Future of the West. Rabbi Zvi Mamorstein led Tehillim to conclude the evening.

The new ambulance joins a fleet at Edgware Hatzola of four ambulances and two ambulance response cars, which are all vital to meeting the growing emergency medical needs of Edgware, Mill Hill and Stanmore.