An Israel Fire and Rescue Authority firefighter was killed and another was critically injured after falling into an eight-meter pit in the Arab town of Deir el-Asad, in the northern Galilee, during attempts to rescue another man who had fallen in the same pit moments before and subsequently died.
The Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed the death of firefighter Adnan Asad, from the Druze village of Beit Jann. He was survived by his wife and three children.
The two firefighters arrived at the scene after reports of a 22-year-old Hebron resident in his 20s who fell into the pit in the town.
The man, who was unconscious when he was pulled out of the pit, was treated by Magen David Adom paramedics before being rushed to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya in critical condition.
Firefighters lost consciousness during attempts to save Israeli man
MDA paramedic Eddy Zugot told Israeli media that the two firefighters “also lost consciousness as they were entering the pit in order to rescue the man.”
Paramedics treated the two firefighters at the scene after pulling them out and they were also rushed to the same hospital via helicopter.
Police opened an investigation into the circumstances that led to the Hebron resident’s fall and subsequent death.
Police later arrested a 28-year-old resident of Deir el-Asad for hiring the Hebron resident, who was not permitted entry to Israel.