Police Special Forces Officer Drowns Off Haifa Coast After Freediving

The body of 22-year-old Itai Parson, a police special forces officer from Haifa, was recovered on Saturday, September 12, after a three-day search. Parson had gone freediving near Student Beach on Thursday, September 10, and disappeared. He was a sergeant in the Yamam, Israel's national counter-terrorism unit.

Parson, who was 23 years old, joined the air force pilot course in January 2023 before transferring to mandatory service in the Border Police (Magav) in August of the same year. He completed a "mistaravim" course, which trains officers to operate undercover among Arab populations, and was then assigned to the Yamam's observation and drone unit. He transitioned to a career service position in December 2025.

The alarm was raised by a relative who was kayaking at sea. Search efforts, which were suspended Thursday night and resumed Friday morning, involved numerous agencies. Police Commissioner Danny Levi attended the scene. The Israeli Navy, the naval special forces unit Shayetet 13, and the underwater operations unit Yaltam joined the search.

Extensive resources were deployed, including drones, a police helicopter, a light aircraft, boats, jet skis, horses, and all-terrain vehicles. The operation also included the Border Police, marine police, mounted and canine units, police rescue teams, the fire and rescue service, the Haifa municipality, Magen David Adom (MDA), United Hatzalah, coastal rescue services, volunteer divers, ZAKA, Yedidim, rapid response teams, and civilian volunteers. Searches were conducted along the coast and in the water, day and night, and from the air.