78-year-old man falls to death while rappelling in West Bank

Rope said to have snapped, causing grandfather to plunge 15-20 meters during trip near Karnei Shomron with group including his grandson

By ToI Staff 17 August 2018, 2:24 pm Edit
Scene where a 78-year-old man died while rappelling near Karnei Shomron in northern Israel on August 17, 2018. (Magen David Adom)
Scene where a 78-year-old man died while rappelling near Karnei Shomron in northern Israel on August 17, 2018. (Magen David Adom)

A 78-year-old man fell to his death on Friday while rappelling in a cave during a hike near the West Bank settlement of Karnei Shomron, police said.

According to Hebrew media reports, it appeared that the man’s rope snapped as he was ascending out of a cavern part of the Bell Caves complex, causing him to fall some 15-20 meters (50-65 feet).

He was reportedly part of a group including his grandson and other family members. Rescuers managed to bring him out of the cave, and paramedics attempted to resuscitate him but were forced to declare his death.

Police launched an investigation into the incident.

Cave where a 78-year-old man died while rappelling near Karnei Shomron in northern Israel on August 17, 2018. (Magen David Adom)

This was the second time in two weeks someone was killed in a rappelling accident.

Last Tuesday 18-year-old Yonatan Yankelowicz of the West Bank Halamish settlement (also known as Neve Tsuf) died while rappelling at the Shilat cliffs near Modi’in.

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