As the summer season comes to an end, Magen David Adom reports it responded to 288 drowning calls this season of which 51 involved fatalities. This represents a significant increase in fatal cases as that number was only 30 last year.

Just this past weekend there were six calls for drowning victims, some ending in death.

Swim season opened on May 9, 2016 and officials closed on Monday, September 4, 2016. Crews responded to 288 calls in which 51 ended in death, 9 with the victim in grave condition, 10 serious, 24 moderate and 194 light.

Responses to drowning calls included 159 to beaches, 12 along the Dead Sea coast, 4 Eilat beaches, 6 along the Kinneret, 32 public pools and 15 private pools. There was a single case of a reservoir and one in Gan HaShloshah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)