A 23-year-old Israeli who had recently finished his military service was killed Thursday when the tandem paraglider he was flying on crashed near Medellín, Colombia. He was on the long trip abroad that many Israelis take after the army.
The crash happened around noon. The paraglider lost control and came down in a wooded ravine. Local officials and witnesses reported strong winds and bad weather in the area, which may have contributed to the accident. The Israeli was pronounced dead at the scene. The local pilot flying with him was seriously injured and taken to a hospital.
The cause of the crash has not yet been established. Colombian prosecutors have opened an investigation. Authorities said the paragliding company that provided the flight is properly registered and legally recognized.
Rabbi Levi Vanunu, the Chabad emissary in Medellín, is working with the Israeli Embassy to bring the young man's body back to Israel for burial as quickly as possible. The Foreign Ministry said it is in contact with local authorities and arranging the return.
