Missing Diver Found Dead Off Haifa Coast After Three-Day Search

The search for a missing 23-year-old diver off the coast of Haifa concluded Saturday with the discovery of his body. Itay Parson, a resident of Haifa, disappeared on Thursday afternoon while free diving without equipment about a kilometer offshore from the students' beach. His uncle, who was with him on a kayak, last saw him before he submerged and did not see him resurface. The uncle returned to shore and reported Parson missing around 9 p.m. that evening.

Extensive search operations, involving police, Border Police, the maritime police, the air support unit, emergency services, and the Haifa municipality, were launched and continued for three days. A command post was established on the beach, staffed by senior officers, where Parson's parents, who are well-known in the city, waited for news. Parson was a career soldier with the rank of Sergeant Major in the elite counter-terrorism Yamam unit of the Border Police.

Parson was the son of Judge Rona Parson and dentist Dr. Alex Parson. He is survived by his parents and four siblings. He had previously served in the Nahal Brigade's pilot course and the Border Police's special forces, specializing in observation and drones before joining the Yamam in December 2025. The family had set up their own command post to coordinate search efforts.