Full Breakdown
12-Year-Old Boy Found Dead After Boat Capsizes in Jordan River
8/9/2026, 8:04:44 PM
Incident Overview
On August 9, 2026, a 12-year-old boy from Modi’in Illit fell into the Jordan River near Yesod HaMaalah in the Hula Valley after his inflatable boat capsized. Emergency calls were logged by the Magen David Adom (MDA) 101 hotline for the Jordan region. Search teams from the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, Israel Police, and volunteer units were dispatched to locate the missing child.
Rescue Operations
The Golan Rescue Unit, part of the Fire and Rescue Authority, conducted an hour-long search along the riverbank and riverbed, assisted by a police aviation helicopter, a United Hatzalah drone unit, and volunteers from the Northern District’s Special Rescue Unit. After the boy was recovered from the water, MDA paramedics, including Assaf Perlman and Harel Levy, performed medical examinations but found no pulse or breathing. United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit provided emotional first aid to responders on site. ZAKA’s Northern District unit was also present to ensure proper handling of the body.
Official Statements & Responses
United Hatzalah’s emergency-medical technicians described the coordinated effort, noting the use of drone technology and on-scene psychological support. MDA officials emphasized that despite advanced resuscitation attempts, the child showed no signs of life. Police and fire officials confirmed that the extensive deployment of resources reflected standard protocol for water-related emergencies in the region.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A 12-year-old boy was located and pulled from the water by the Golan Rescue Unit and brought to the banks of the Jordan River without signs of life. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene. United Hatzalah assisted in the search efforts with our drone unit, and our Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit provided emotional first aid at the scene due to the nature of the incident,” — United Hatzalah EMTs
- “During the search for a 12-year-old boy who had gone missing in the Jordan River, the Golan Rescue Unit located him and brought him to us unconscious after he had been underwater. We performed medical examinations, but he showed no signs of life and we had no choice but to pronounce him dead.” — Harel Levy
These statements capture the factual sequence of the rescue and the tragic outcome, as reported by the agencies directly involved.
