Two missing Palestinian youths found safe in the Dead Sea after lengthy searches
Two were apparently swept out on the water by strong winds; rescue services find them 2km from shore after 8 hours
Large-scale searches were launched Thursday night after two youths went missing in the Dead Sea in southern Israel, police said.
After eight hours of searches, the two were found, using drones with thermal cameras, some two kilometers from the coast.
A boat then evacuated them to shore, where they received initial medical treatment and were then evacuated by the Red Crescent.
They were both listed in moderate condition after spending some eight hours in the salty body of water.
According to the Ynet news site, the two had come from Ramallah and Bethlehem.
The two were apparently carried out to sea by strong winds. The Israel Defense Forces, Israel Police, and rescue organizations all took part in the search.
אחרי לילה של חיפושים: חולצו שני מטיילים בשנות ה-20 לחייהם שנסחפו ללב ים המלח. הם אותרו בשעה 03:00 לפנות בוקר באמצעות רחפן במרחק של כ-2 ק״מ מהחוף@carmeldangor
(צילום: יחידת החילוץ מגילות) pic.twitter.com/X2ZsRrOEpQ— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 23, 2021
Police deployed a helicopter, two boats, and a drone with thermal cameras in a bid to find the two.
The incident took place near the Mitzoke Dragot beach, north of Ein Gedi.
The Times of Israel Community.