Another tragedy, this time on a separate Ashdod beach. 17-year-old talmid yeshiva Akiva Shachar z”l arrived at the beach on Wednesday, 16 Sivan with friends. They were on an organized trip. Unfortunately, his friends only realized Akiva was missing after they boarded the bus to head home.
It appears there was no lifeguard at the beach. “At about 19:15 we received the call at the Zaka dispatch center about a talmid yeshiva missing on the separate beach in Ashdod” explained a Zaka official.
Zaka Ashdod Commander Avi Deri arrived with other volunteers as they entered the water and began the search for Akiva. The lifeless body was found in a short time after the search began. They brought him to the shore and immediately began resuscitation efforts.
Ichud Hatzalah’s Moshe Whitman told the press “When we arrived they explained they did not know where their friend was, explaining no one saw him exit the water. His lifeless body was found after a few minutes. CPR was initiated but unfortunately it was not meant to be.
Zaka points out this is the second fatal drowning on the beach this season and summer is not even upon us. Zaka also stresses people must not enter the water if no lifeguard is on duty.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Tragic. BDE.
Every swimmer should have a buddy to keep an eye on him at all times, that way no one goes missing.
Bochurim should understand that the rule if there is no lifeguard they must not enter the water is one made for a good reason. There is a tendency to regard rules like this as nonsense, until a tragedy happens.
The Gemarah say a father must teach his son how to swim and if not, they should not go swimming. If you just want to play in the water you can do so on the bathtub. There is a need for swimming teachers and lifeguards over there.
He was an excellent swimmer. He had epilepsy and suffered a seizer in the water.
Torah learning protects