Woman drowns in Dead Sea

A woman drowned on Thursday in the Dead Sea.

The woman, who was aged around 60 but was not immediately named, was pulled out of the water near hotels on the shore.

Paramedics administered first aid and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her.

Many assume that it is impossible to drown in the Dead Sea due to its high salt content, which stops swimmers from sinking and enables them to float on its surface.

However, the very buoyancy that attracts visitors can turn deadly if a swimmer flips over onto their stomach, because it is difficult to force the feet down to turn back over.

Additionally, drinking the saltwater can harm the heart and kidneys.

Experts recommend not spending more than 20 minutes in the Dead Sea during any one dip to avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.