A firefighter from the Israeli fire department’s search and rescue unit died on Saturday after being critically injured while trying to save a Palestinian man from a pit near the northern village of Deir al-Assad. The Palestinian man, who was also critically injured, succumbed to his wounds on Sunday. Another firefighter remains in critical condition in the hospital.
A Tragic Accident
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, when a 21-year-old Palestinian man from Hebron, who did not have a residence permit in Israel, fell into a pit in the yard of a house in Deir al-Assad. The pit, which was eight meters deep (about 26 feet), was suspected to emit noxious gases that caused the man to lose consciousness.
Two firefighters from the search and rescue unit arrived at the scene and entered the pit with breathing equipment. However, they also lost consciousness while in the pit, and were pulled out by other firefighters who arrived later. All three were taken to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya in critical condition.
On Saturday, the fire department announced that one of the firefighters, 38-year-old Yaniv Elad, had died of his injuries. Elad, who was married and had three children, was a veteran firefighter who had served in the unit for 15 years. He was praised by his colleagues and superiors as a brave and dedicated professional who always put others before himself.
On Sunday, the Palestinian man, whose name was not released, also died of his injuries. His family was notified by the Palestinian Authority and arrangements were made to transfer his body to Hebron. The second firefighter, whose name was also not disclosed, remains in critical condition and is fighting for his life.
An Ongoing Investigation
The fire department and the police are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and whether there were any safety violations or negligence involved. The fire department said that the pit was not marked or fenced off, and that it was unclear why the Palestinian man went into it. The police are also investigating who his employer was and whether he had any work permits.
The fire department said that it was a rare and tragic incident that claimed the life of one of its members and left another in serious danger. It expressed its condolences to Elad’s family and friends and its support to the injured firefighter and his family. It also said that it would provide psychological assistance to all the firefighters who were involved in the rescue mission.
The incident sparked an outpouring of grief and sympathy from Israeli officials and public figures. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that he was “deeply saddened” by Elad’s death and that he “saluted his heroism and sacrifice”. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured firefighter and sent his condolences to the Palestinian man’s family.
President Isaac Herzog said that he was “heartbroken” by the loss of Elad and that he “admired his courage and dedication”. He also prayed for the recovery of the injured firefighter and expressed his sorrow for the Palestinian man’s death. He said that he hoped that such incidents would not happen again and that “we will find ways to live together in peace and harmony”.
