The team of Doctors of the World continues its street work activities for the citizens living in the port of Piraeus. The approximately 150 people living in the wider Piraeus area receive from our team on a weekly basis medical care, psychosocial support, personal protection items and food items.
During a visit of the street work team to the port, while we were providing regular care to the homeless population, one of them, who appeared to be intoxicated, refused to receive assistance despite our repeated efforts. We continued on to the rest of the population, however, a short distance away, a team member saw the beneficiary heading towards the sea and falling in. We immediately went to the spot, where with the help of our team and the coast guard, we managed to pull the man out of the water, but he was unconscious. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered and after almost 10 minutes he regained consciousness. We then called the ambulance and he was taken to hospital. The presence of the medical team and the expert knowledge of CPR by the medical team proved to be life-saving for the man’s life.
Some days later, when the street work team visited the area again, the man who was rescued from certain drowning was there waiting for the team, with the most beautiful smile in the port of Piraeus. Life smiles and goes on!
