Israeli Father Dies in Slovenia While Rescuing Son From Fall

A 44-year-old Israeli man, Gil Hillel, died in Slovenia after falling into a ravine while attempting to rescue his 7-year-old son. The incident occurred near the Savica Waterfall in northwestern Slovenia during a family trip. The son had wandered off and fallen, prompting his father to search for him. During the search, Gil Hillel also fell into the ravine. Rescue teams located both father and son in the Savica River canyon. Gil Hillel sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His son was also found injured with fractures and bruises, but his condition is expected to improve. He was airlifted to the University Medical Center in Ljubljana.

According to Gil Hillel's brother, the son suffered a leg fracture and other injuries but is expected to recover. The Bohinj mountain rescue service reported receiving the call around 6 p.m., initially believing only a child had fallen. Rescue workers descended approximately 60 meters into the river canyon using ropes to retrieve Gil Hillel's body from the steep terrain. Gil Hillel, originally from Moshav Mikhmoret, moved to Kibbutz Yizrael after marrying a kibbutz member. He was an agricultural engineering graduate of the Technion and was described as devoted to his family and three children.

News of the tragedy deeply shocked Kibbutz Yizrael, where residents requested privacy for the grieving family. Gil Hillel's wife, Rotem, shared a final photo of them together, expressing her profound grief and the difficulty of imagining life without him, as well as the challenge of telling their son that his father would not return. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been updated, and the department for Israelis abroad, along with the Israeli delegation in the region, are assisting the family with arrangements to repatriate Gil Hillel's body to Israel. Funeral details have not yet been announced.

The Slovenian police are investigating the circumstances of the accident, after which the case file is expected to be transferred to the district prosecutor's office.