A day of outdoor recreation in northern Israel turned tragic on Sunday, as a 16-year-old yeshiva student was killed in a rappelling accident near Keshet Cave, just hours after a 12-year-old boy drowned in the Jordan River following an extensive search operation.

The 16-year-old victim, Yehonatan Klimian of Katzrin, a student at Hispin Yeshiva High School, lost his life after falling while rappelling at Keshet Cave in the western Galilee.

Emergency responders estimated that the teenager plunged approximately 30 to 40 meters (98 to 131 feet). Rescue personnel from the Israeli Air Force’s elite Unit 669 were dispatched to recover his body from the rugged terrain.

Magen David Adom paramedics Maimon Gabay and Ligal Dror described the grim scene: “We received a report of a teenager who fell from a great height, apparently while rappelling. We rappelled down to the scene and found the teenager unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, and with severe injuries to his body. We provided advanced medical treatment, including resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately, we had no choice but to pronounce him dead.”

Earlier the same day, another tragedy unfolded near Yesod HaMa’ala, where a 12-year-old boy disappeared after falling from a boat into the Jordan River during a family outing.

The emergency was first reported to the Fire and Rescue Authority’s 102 dispatch center, prompting the deployment of firefighters, members of the Northern District’s Special Rescue Unit, police officers, and additional rescue agencies.

Search teams combed the river and surrounding area for hours before locating the child. He was pulled from the water without signs of life.

United Hatzalah EMTs Yossi Amar and Shneor Zalman Navon said, “A 12-year-old boy was located and pulled from the water by the Golan Rescue Unit and brought to the banks of the Jordan River without signs of life. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene. United Hatzalah assisted in the search efforts with our drone unit, and our Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit provided emotional first aid at the scene due to the nature of the incident.”

{Matzav.com}