Tamerlan Tsarnaev Doctor David Schoenfeld Reflects On Efforts To Revive Bombing Suspect

David Schoenfeld, the doctor who attempted to revive Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev early Friday morning, has spoken of his experience.

Just hours after hearing on his radio at home that a police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had been shot and killed, Schoenfeld was treating one of the lead suspects in the crime at his hospital, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Schoenfeld reflects on his efforts to treat Tsarnaev, who was critically injured while being pursued by police through Watertown, Boston.

“A little while [after the MIT shooting], I saw a lot of police cars come into Watertown, where I live, and I started hearing gunshots and some explosions. When I heard the explosions, I knew that something was seriously wrong.”

The doctor, who had been at work while 24 patients from Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings were rushed into the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, described how Tsarnaev was brought in with a large law enforcement escort:

“There was some discussion of who’s coming in. Is it the suspect? Is this a victim? Is it a police officer?

“Ultimately that discussion died down quickly, because it doesn’t matter who’s coming in. We’re going to treat them as best as we can, because you really don’t know who it is until the dust settles.”

Schoenfeld says Tsarnaev, 26, went into cardiac arrest upon his arrival at hospital. CPR was performed before a team of doctors attempted to resuscitate him, with chest tubes inserted to treat potential injuries and provide what Schoenfeld describes as “massive blood transfusions.”

The efforts of medical staff were in vain, however: Tsarnaev had endured colossal injuries, and was pronounced dead at 1.35am Friday. A morgue photo of Tsarnaev has since been circulated online.

Reflecting on the week’s events in Boston, Schoenfeld adds:

“This has been a very tragic and trying time. It’s difficult for everyone here in Boston – the emergency responders, health care professionals, the citizens … and I’m sure throughout the country it’s been a very difficult time.”