by Paula Strauss

As MDA volunteers in Beer Sheva we thought we would share our story with you.  This morning we went to the bombings in Dimona and brought a patient

back to Beer Sheva! We were not allowed to get out the ambulance however the atmosphere at the scene was insane. It was a normal morning shift. We started at seven, our first call an hour and a half later was to a man who had hypothermia - nice and simple we took him to hospital. From here our driver decided it was a good idea to go and get some food. Just as we get to the place we get another call.

We were told we were being taken to an explosion in Dimona, we had no idea of whether it was a bomb, gas explosion or anything else - we didn't even know where in Dimona we were going we were just aware of shouting over the radio from the moked and that all the ambulances from Beer Sheva and the surrounding area were going to the scene.

On our way to the call our radio stopped working! We were unaware of where we were going so followed other ambulances until the radio started working, this was really scary!!

At the scene there were at least 15 ambulances (we could count 15), hundreds of people- members of the public just watching, police blocking off roads and shouting at people, some of the army. At the scene we were told to remain in the ambulance, our driver and the other paramedic with us put on stab proof vests and went to investigate the scene. MDA workers were everywhere taking beds out of ambulances, they didn't care which ambulances they were driving, where equipment came from, as long as they were helping.

Sitting in the ambulance we heard a few gun shots, and honestly didn't pay them much attention, just pointed out to each other what we had heard. After the event we found out that these shots were the police shooting a second suicide bomber.

A different driver (one who we didn't know) drove us round the scene to the other side and picked up a patient. The patient had been upstairs in a restaurant in the area where the bomb went off. He was very lucky, he was incredibly shaken had shallow breathing was clearly in a lot of pain. As it was just a driver and the two of us we gave him oxygen, checked his blood pressure, pulse and even his glucose levels because he was diabetic.

When we arrived at the hospital there were doctors and medics already waiting outside, loads of reporters and cameras flashing at us. We then rushed the patient in to hospital where he was treated by hospital medics.

It was a really surreal morning! Definitely a call I will never forget, and hopefully something none of us will ever have to see/ experience again!"

Paula Strauss, 18, is from North London, and after her year in Israel plans to pursue a degree in psychology at Birmingham University.  Paula is a participant on Machon L' Madrichim programme in conjunction with AJ6 (association of Jewish Sixthformers)