Corporal Evyatar Yosefi dies after being swept away by Hilazon River

An IDF soldier died Monday morning after being swept away by the Hilazon stream near Karmiel in northern Israel.

The soldier, who was part of Gadsar elite paratrooper reconnaissance battalion,was swept away by the river while participating in a navigation training exercise.

The soldier was identified as 20 year-old Corporal Evyatar Yosefi from Givat Shmuel.

He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant.

According to the military the soldier’s unit had been hiking around the stream, working in pairs to learn how to navigate in the wilderness. Around 5 in the morning the soldier and his partner were told that the unit was regrouping and to return to a specific spot.  

The two reached the Hilazon stream which due to rains overnight had swelled to a height of 0.5-meters-1 meter. While the first soldier succeeded in crossing the stream the second soldier, slipped on the riverbank and fell into the stream.

While his partner tried to throw him a rope, the soldier was unable to grab onto it. It is unclear whether he couldn’t reach the rope because of the water or that he may have his head when he fell onto the riverbank.

He was found two hours later by rescue service 100 meters from where he fell into the water.

The rescue mission was carried out by Israeli police officers, together with volunteers from the Galilee rescue unit, the Israel Air Force helicopter and the 669 rescue unit. During the course of the rescue, two other soldiers were lightly injured and received medical treatment at the scene.

According to IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis, it is not known why the two soldiers tried to cross the stream. The weather at the time, he said, did not play a major role in the tragedy and the navigation exercise had been approved by all relevant officers.

The military has opened three investigations into the deadly incident.

One investigation was opened by the Head of the Central Command Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa who appointed the commander of the Eztion Brigade Col. Oren Simcha to investigate the incident. Military Police will also investigate the incident and the deceased soldier’s commanders will also submit a report.

Following the incident the Head of the Ground Forces Maj.-Gen. Kobi Barak ordered that all training exercises revolving around navigating be stopped until the investigations have been completed.

Created during the first Lebanon War under the command of former Maj.Gen. Doron Almog, it’s mission is to be the elite reconnaissance unit of the Paratroopers Brigade in conventional warfare or low-intensity fighting.

While most of the activities comprise of routine and ongoing security operations, such as regularly assisting in carrying overnight raids in the West Bank against Palestinian terror suspects, during war the elite brigade’s special forces battalion serves as forward operating troops responsible for reconnaissance, sabotage and complex missions deep inside enemy territory.

Made up of three specialized companies: demolitions and combat engineering, reconnaissance and anti-tank, the soldiers also specialize in counter terror operations, navigation, underground warfare, sabotage, and are specifically trained and equipped to operate in any combat situations.

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