IDF soldier dies after drowning in pool during recreation day for his unit

A 19-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier drowned Wednesday in a swimming pool during a recreation day for his unit in the coastal city of Ashkelon.

The soldier’s family has been informed of his death, the military said in a statement Thursday morning.

A lifeguard was apparently on duty at the pool at the Ashkelon Recreation Village when the incident happened, and authorities were working to determine if a medical condition caused the soldier to drown, Ynet reported.

Activities for the rest of his unit were halted and the soldiers are being given emotional support from the commanders and a mental health team, the report said.

The recreation village is operated by Yahad – United for Israel’s Soldiers Ashkelon Recreation Village, a welfare organization for IDF soldiers.

In a separate incident a man, 20, drowned off the coast of Ashkelon on Wednesday.

Medics who arrived at the scene on the city’s Dalila Beach took the man to the Barzilai Medical Center, and doctors at the hospital later declared his death.