Emergency responders pronounced a 16-year-old boy dead on Sunday evening after he fell approximately 40 meters during a rappelling activity in northern Israel.
The victim was a yeshiva student from the north, affiliated with the religious Zionist community, who had gone on the adventure activity during bein hazmanim, the break between study sessions at religious seminaries.
It remains unclear exactly how the incident occurred, including whether the teen was harnessed and fell during the climb itself, or was standing nearby when he fell.
Rescue teams called in Unit 669, the Israel Defense Forces' elite search and rescue unit, due to the complex topographical conditions at Keshet Cave near Admit. Despite their efforts, the teenager was declared dead at the scene.
United Hatzalah's northern district reported: "Medical teams from United Hatzalah were dispatched to Keshet Cave following a report of a youth who had fallen from height."
Yossi and Orit Ozen, a married couple who volunteer as medics with United Hatzalah, along with medic Lior Hassan, arrived first on scene. "We were informed that he fell from height during rappelling," they recounted. "Sadly, he was pronounced dead in the field due to the nature of the severe injuries he sustained. Teams from United Hatzalah's Chosen unit are providing psychological support at the scene given the nature of the incident."
