American Aid Workers Save Israeli Teen from Drowning in Ashdod

On Monday, two American security guards assigned to an upcoming humanitarian aid mission in Gaza became unexpected heroes when they rescued 17-year-old Naomi Reidler from drowning at a beach in Ashdod.

The incident unfolded near the Leonardo Hotel, where Naomi and a friend were enjoying a day by the sea until strong waves began to pull them in. While her friend managed to return to shore, Naomi found herself swept further out, unable to fight the current.

A local man, noticing her struggle, attempted to help but couldn’t reach her. He quickly alerted the two American guards, who were nearby.

One of the guards, identified as John, jumped into the water despite the sun’s glare obscuring his view, while his colleague, a medic, guided him toward Naomi’s location. Using a life preserver, John successfully brought her back to shore, where the medic provided initial care until police and Magen David Adom (MDA) teams arrived to take over.

Naomi, still shaken, recounted the ordeal: “I was with my friend at the beach, we went into the water, and suddenly the waves got stronger and started pulling us in. My friend made it back, but I couldn’t, I was swept further out.” She expressed deep gratitude for the guards’ swift action, noting that another bystander had tried to assist but couldn’t manage. “One of them came in with a life preserver and helped me get out,” she said.

After the rescue, Naomi was taken to a hospital for evaluation and was found to be in stable condition. The American guards left the scene shortly after, avoiding interaction with Israeli law enforcement, though they believe some onlookers may have filmed the incident.

Naomi shared her desire to reconnect with her rescuers: “They made sure I was okay and escorted me to the MDA team. I didn’t get their names, but I’d love to talk to them and say thank you again.”

Ynet contributed to this article.