A 26-year-old Israeli nursing student vacationing in Sri Lanka helped rescue an Israeli tourist who was injured by a lightning strike while on the beach.

Tal Danan, a fourth-year student at the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo who served as a medic in the IDF, was listening to music on the beach on her earbuds when lightning struck. She noticed a 50-year-old Israeli man in physical duress who was suffering from irregular breathing and pulse.

Danan took command of the situation, offered first aid and had an ambulance summoned. Together with another Israeli tourist, she accompanied him in the ambulance as he was administered oxygen en route. His condition stabilized in the hospital.

The man, who subsequently recovered, sent the student a bouquet of flowers and a thank-you note for her help in saving his life.

“During my nursing studies, I acquired a lot of knowledge and tools in the field of medical care and first aid, which have proven themselves in real-life situations,” Danan told Israel’s Channel 12 television on Sunday. “The skills I acquired allowed me to respond quickly and effectively, and this experience showed me how much nursing studies are not just theoretical knowledge, but actual preparation for saving lives and helping others in real time.

“I’m glad he came out of it safely, thank God,” she said.

Image -  Hillel Maeir/Flash90