Overview
- Emergency crews recovered and pronounced dead a boy who sank after a boat capsized on the Jordan River near Yesod HaMa'alah, in a search led by the Fire and Rescue Services that used water teams, shoreline sweeps and drone surveillance.
- Rescuers also found a 16-year-old who fell an estimated 30–40 meters while rappelling at Keshet Cave and paramedics pronounced him dead after resuscitation attempts failed.
- The two accidents occurred on Sunday and drew a coordinated response from Magen David Adom, Israel Police, the Northern District Special Rescue Unit, the Golan Rescue Unit, United Hatzalah and IAF Unit 669 for the cliff extraction.
- Authorities have opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the Jordan River drowning, and volunteer crisis teams provided on-scene psychotrauma support to families and responders.
- Northern Israel sees higher numbers of water- and cliff-related incidents in summer, and investigators will examine how equipment, supervision or conditions may have contributed to these fatal recreational accidents.