JERUSALEM (VINnews)  — BDE: Yehoshua Rom z”l, a 17-year-old student in his first year at the Grodna Yeshiva in Be’er Yaakov, a resident of Bnei Brak, passed away after drowning at the spring during a Bein Hazmanim trip with his friends.

An aerial team from the Lahava unit, led by the unit commander, was called to Ein Akev following a report of a missing youth who had drowned after falling into the spring during the outing. After his clothes were found at the site, his body was located several hours later.

Volunteers from ZAKA operated at the scene, treating the deceased with dignity and collecting findings. Aharon Fischer, a ZAKA volunteer who was in the area and was called to the scene, together with Gili Tugenhaft, a ZAKA volunteer from the Negev (Dimona team), said: “We arrived after receiving a report of a missing youth at the spring. After hours of searching, the 17-year-old was located. This is a very harsh scene. Together with additional ZAKA volunteers, we are handling the scene with respect for the deceased and accompanying the family in these difficult moments.”

His body will be transferred for external examination at the Abu Kabir forensic institute. The funeral will take place on Monday at 1:30 PM, departing from his home at 25 Ben Zakkai Street in Bnei Brak to the cemetery in Elad, where he will be laid to rest.

The deceased was born in Bnei Brak 17 years ago to his father, Rabbi Yisrael Noam Rom, a Talmid Chacham and kollel scholar at Beit David in Holon, considered among the prominent disciples of Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, and to his mother, Sarah (née Glick).

It was also learned that at the age of three he became seriously ill and was in critical condition, but by divine mercy he recovered.

He studied at the Tiferet Zion yeshiva for younger students, and this past Elul he began his first year at the Grodna Yeshiva in Be’er Yaakov, where he continued to grow in his Torah studies.

Earlier today, after the sunrise (netz) prayer, he went on a trip to the Negev with his friends. In this tragic incident, he drowned in the spring, to the deep sorrow of his family and friends.

His fellow students are in shock over his sudden passing and describe him as an exceptional young man with outstanding character who was deeply devoted to his studies.

May his soul be bound in the bond of life.