IDF soldier, a recent US immigrant, collapses during training

An IDF soldier from the Nahal Brigade collapsed on Sunday during training at an army base in the center of the country. He was taken to Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera in serious condition, suffering from severe dehydration after a running exercise, according to reports.

His fellow soldiers administered basic care before the base’s medical staff was called in.

The 20-year-old lone soldier is a recent immigrant from the United States, having made aliya a year ago to join the IDF.

A Nahal soldier told Channel 2 News Monday night that “usually these runs done on Sundays are difficult because there is high humidity in the Beit Lid area. The soldiers return hung-over after a weekend at home and after very little sleep, so I assume it’s related to that”.

The soldier’s family has been notified. His mother, who resides in the US, was scheduled to arrive in the country on Monday.

The IDF has reportedly suspended morning training in the wake of the incident, due to the heavy August heat, and has opened an investigation into the circumstances.