Sergeant Major Itai Parson, a 23-year-old Yamam operator from Haifa, was found dead on Saturday after a three-day search off Students Beach.
Parson entered the water on Thursday afternoon and did not return. A relative who was with him on a kayak alerted rescue services. Reports during the search said he had gone free-diving without equipment. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and his partner. The search drew Carmel district police, the marine policing unit, a police helicopter, Border Police fighters, volunteers and fire and rescue crews, with boats, drones and underwater search equipment working the sea, the air and the coastline. Shayetet 13 and the navy's underwater missions unit joined on Friday after overnight scans found nothing. Divers from the fire service's Lahava unit, which remained at Students Beach throughout the three days, ultimately located him.
Parson enlisted in January 2023 for the air force pilot course and transferred to compulsory service in the Border Police that August. After completing fighter training he continued to the mistaravim course and was assigned to the observation and drone team at Yamam, which operates under the Border Police.
