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Four-Year-Old Found Alive After Nearly 24 Hours Missing Near Ashkelon

Released police audio names the civilian finders and supports officials’ view that the child’s decision to rest in shade likely kept him alive.

Overview

  • The boy, Yuval Kogan, vanished during a beach outing and was located by civilians nearly 24 hours later after an extensive search.
  • Noam Simhi and Netanel Biton found Yuval standing under a tree several kilometers from the disappearance site and made the first emergency call that police later released.
  • Police estimate Yuval was found about five kilometers from where he disappeared and say he survived by stopping after nightfall and sleeping in shaded cover.
  • Yuval was reunited with his family, taken to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center for a checkup, and released the same day.
  • The search brought police, the Shin Bet, rescue teams, dog units, hundreds of drones, and thousands of volunteers, and officials say the case highlights that young children can travel farther than search teams often assume.