Two vacationers died of complications of dehydration due to Tuesday’s unseasonably hot weather. A 50-year-old father and his son were in the Nachal Tzin area at about 5:00PM on Tuesday.

It appears their vehicle broke down and the father instructed his son to remain in the vehicle while he goes to arrange for a tow truck. Time passed and the son became increasingly concerned as his father did not return. At one point, fearing the worst, the son summoned the area rescue squad, informing them of what occurred and of his concerns for his father’s well-being.

The Aravah search & rescue team began operating, finding the father’s body, summoning the air force’s 669 rescue airborne rescue and despite CPR efforts, it became apparent they were too late. The son was physically unharmed, still in the area of the car.

Preliminary findings indicate the father left the vehicle without water, dehydrated, and eventually died as a result.

Earlier in the day, a Brazilian tourist in his 30s visited Massada with a friend. He collapsed at one point, transported to the trauma unit of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva where he was pronounced dead.

Eitan Campbel, the tourist arrived in good shape but shortly thereafter, he began exhibiting signs of feeling poorly. One of the people on hand was a medic, giving first aid, but nevertheless, his condition deteriorated rapidly.

The advanced life support team stationed at Massada responded and began CPR with advanced life support protocol. A chopper was summoned and his was flown to Soroka, showing signs of profound dehydration and heat stroke. Doctors in the trauma unit continued resuscitation efforts for another 30 minutes, then realizing their efforts were futile.

At one point during the day, temperatures at Massada reached 42C (107.5F).

Unseasonably hot temperatures are expected to continue today, Wednesday, as well.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)