Rescue teams located a father and six children safe Monday afternoon after the family lost contact while hiking in Nahal Guv in the Negev's Arava region amid intense summer heat, prompting a rapid search-and-rescue mobilization.
The family, children aged 9 to 19, departed Kibbutz Ovot at 8:00 a.m. equipped with water, hats, and hiking boots for a trek through the riverbed. At 9:30 a.m., family members texted the mother, who remained behind, confirming they had begun the route.
By 11:30 a.m., roughly two hours later, the family sent another message indicating they were exhausted from the severe heat and hoped to complete the route within approximately 30 minutes. Contact was subsequently lost, prompting the mother to alert the Arava Rescue Unit.
The rescue unit dispatched teams immediately upon notification. According to rescue protocol, teams divided into two search groups, one beginning from the upper section of the riverbed and another from below, to maximize coverage and minimize search time in the extreme conditions.
Approximately 30 minutes after arriving at the scene, rescue personnel located all seven family members. "We reached the family. Everyone is with us. They are very exhausted, but in good condition," the rescue unit reported.
According to rescue protocols, the family was immediately transferred to an air-conditioned vehicle and provided with water and hydration assistance. Magen David Adom paramedics were en route to the scene to provide medical evaluation and determine whether the family required transport for further treatment.
The rescue illustrates both the dangers posed by the Negev's extreme summer temperatures and the effectiveness of rapid-response rescue protocols. Temperatures in the Arava region routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) during August, creating significant heat-exposure risk for hikers, particularly during afternoon hours.
