The Hungarian Jewish actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film ‘Son of Saul’ is reportedly volunteering as an ambulance assistant in New York City amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hungarian actor and poet Geza Rohrig said on a Facebook Live appearance earlier this week that he used to work for the ambulance service for a six-month period seven years ago.
After the number of COVID-19 cases in New York began to escalate, Rohrig’s former boss called and asked him to lend a hand.
The 52-year-old actor said that he had to complete a six-hour course and pass an exam before returning to service.
He added that he has also been washing dead bodies in New York for many years, in accordance with Jewish and Muslim customs.
Rohrig said that he took part in the washing of three dead COVID-19 patients last weekend and that they were all given online funerals.
The deceased’s close family were allowed to be present at the funeral service, but the other guests had to take part online.
‘Son of Saul’ is a 2015 Hungarian drama film set in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, and follows a day-and-a-half in the life of Saul Auslander (played by Rohrig).
At the 88th Academy Awards, Son of Saul won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
