Sergeant Major Itai Person, a 23-year-old Yamam operator from Haifa, was found dead on Saturday after a three-day search off Students Beach.
Person 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.
Person 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.
He moved to career service in December 2025. Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav said the city had hoped and prayed for nearly three days that Person would be found safe, and that Haifa was embracing his parents, siblings, partner and friends.
The family has asked the public not to come to the house over the coming days and said visitors will be received during the shiva. I
