Missing Freediver Found Dead After Two-Day Search Off Haifa Beach

The body of a 23-year-old Haifa resident, who went missing two days prior, has been found after an extensive search. The young man entered the water on Thursday afternoon at Student Beach and did not return. It was later revealed that he was freediving, a form of underwater diving without scuba gear, using only a mask and fins.

A relative, who remained on a kayak, alerted the police when the diver remained submerged for an unusually long time. Search efforts, spanning both day and night, involved boats, helicopters, and all-terrain vehicles combing the shoreline and coastal waters. The search also included cavalry units, volunteer off-roaders, divers, and K-9 units. Volunteer organizations, local defense teams, the "Ichud Hatzala" organization, a diving club, and municipal rescuers also joined the operation.

The deceased has been identified as Staff Sergeant Itai Parson, a member of the Border Police's counter-terrorism unit, "Yamam." Parson served in the UAV observation and deployment brigade and transitioned to a contract service in 2025. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and a girlfriend.

The exact location where the body was found, whether in open water or washed ashore, remains undisclosed. While drowning is confirmed, the specific circumstances leading to his death are unclear.