Israeli hiker’s friends carrying his body to nearby village

Patrick Asraf tells Israeli media that 20 of his son’s friends — who are part of the IDF Egoz unit — are braving dangerous terrain, in the dark, to bring Or Asraf’s body to the closest village.

The group are risking their lives, carrying his remains in a rocky, mudslide-ridden area, which was hit hard by the earthquake, he says.

“His friends, all 20 people, are walking through a very dangerous area — now it’s dark and the danger is very great, rocks are flying and the life of every person there is at risk,” he says.

Rescue teams will set out early Monday morning to the village to bring Asraf’s body to burial in Israel.

The family thanked the Israeli government for the efforts to locate Or.

The Asraf family is mourning “its beloved son, the salt of the earth,” a statement from the family says, according to Ynet. “Patrick and Orit Asraf, Or’s father and mother, promised to bring him home and kept their promise.”