A fourth victim of the horrific axe attack in Elad in May succumbed to his injuries overnight Wednesday.

Shimon Ma’atuf, 75, h’yd, of Moshav Barkat, worked as a security guard at the Elad park where the attack took place. When he heard shouting, he rushed to the scene of the attack and was viciously attacked on his head with an axe by the heinous terrorists. According to a Ynet report, witnesses said that Ma’atuf managed to fire at one of the terrorists before they attacked him.

After Ma’atuf’s initial injuries were healed, he was transferred to the Reut Rehabilitation Hospital in Tel Aviv. He never recovered from the attack and was unable to talk but according to family members, he was aware of their presence and at times communicated via eye movements. Three months ago, he suffered a deterioration in his condition and was transferred to Ichilov Hospital.

The niftar is survived by his wife, six children and 13 grandchildren.

The first three murdered victims of the Elad terror attack were three young fathers who left behind 16 yesomim.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)