Klil Kimhi, a 32-year-old from Tel Aviv, was identified as the man killed when a sinkhole opened in a private pool in Carmei Yosef during a pool party on Thursday, pulling him in.
A 34-year-old man who was at the party and fell into the pit as well was injured lightly. Magen David Adom (MDA) staff who were called to the scene provided him with initial medical care. Rescue teams were also called to the scene to work to locate a missing person who fell into the pit that opened in the pool, but were forced to declare his death after finding his body hours later at the end of a 15 meter tunnel.
Footage from the incident shows the water being pulled into the gaping hole, as the partygoers attempt to grasp onto something in order to not be sucked inside. The video also shows the inflatables that were in the pool being swept into the pit and disappearing.
MDA paramedic Uri Damari said: "This is a very unusual incident. When I got to the scene I saw a pit that had opened at the bottom of the empty pool. People who were at the site told me that the pit opened suddenly and within a few seconds all the water from the pool was pulled in.
"A 34-year-old man who pulled himself out of the pit was sitting outside the pool agitated. He suffered minor injuries to his head and limbs and after medical treatment we evacuated him to the hospital. The people who were at the scene know each other and reported to us that there is one person who is missing and special forces of the fire brigade are currently working to locate and rescue him from the pit."
House arrest
The Israeli couple that owned the villa was placed under house arrest due to suspicion of "causing death by negligence," Israeli police said. The couple was arrested on Thursday and released the following day under “restrictive conditions of house arrest” for approximately five days.
Reports also confirm that the villa owners built the pool without proper licensing.