IDF soldier Ilan Yankelevich, z’l, 19, died Wednesday after drowning in a reservoir near Kibbutz Kissufim, not far from the border with Gaza.
According to a medic at the scene, several youths called for assistance after Yankelevich entered the water but didn’t come out after half an hour had passed.
Firefighters who arrived with extrication equipment were assisted by IDF soldiers and together they found and pulled the victim ashore. Although he showed no signs of life, medics repeatedly attempted to resuscitate him; but after several minutes passed without success they were “forced to pronounce his death,” medic Omer Bitton said.
The cause of the drowning is not known.