Boy, 7, drowns after disappearing off Tel Aviv coast

A young boy drowned off the Tel Aviv shore Friday night, as a visit to the beach turned to tragedy.

The boy, 7, apparently entered the water with his brother near Charles Clore beach near Jaffa, when their mother lost sight of them.

After a short search by rescuers, he was pulled out of the water in critical condition near the Gordon Beach marina, nearly two miles (3.2 kilometers) up the Tel Aviv shoreline.

He was rushed to Ichilov Hospital where he was declared dead, authorities said.

Magen David Adom rescuer Tomer Guzman said the boy had been found lifeless by coast guard police.

“When we got to the marina, the police brought us to a boat where there was an unconscious child … not breathing and with no pulse,” Guzman said.

The boy was named on Saturday as Mohammed Nasser.

Nasser’s brother was found unharmed on Jerusalem Beach, over 1 mile (1.8 kilometers) north of Charles Clore Beach, according to reports.

Israelis at Tel Aviv’s beachfront Charles Clore park, on July 14, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

The cause of the drowning was not immediately clear. It occurred around sunset when lifeguards would not normally be on duty.

Experts regularly warn of the dangers of rip tides, strong currents and sudden elevation changes on beaches along the Mediterranean and advise to only swim when lifeguards are watching.

On Thursday, an 8-year-old boy was pulled from the water off the beach near Sdot Yam, south of Haifa, after nearly drowning. He was hospitalized in serious condition.