Israeli Father Dies Saving Son in Slovenia River Tragedy

Gil Hallel, a 44-year-old from Kibbutz Yizrael, tragically died in Slovenia while attempting to rescue his 7-year-old son from a river. The incident occurred during a family hike along a river canyon. Hallel's son slipped and fell into the water, hitting rocks. When Hallel tried to save him, he lost his footing and fell into the abyss. The boy was airlifted to a hospital, conscious with a broken leg and other injuries.

Hallel's wife, Rotem, shared a heartfelt Facebook post mourning his death, stating, "I am not ready yet to speak about you in the past tense. You are my home." She described him as her anchor for twenty years and expressed the difficulty of imagining life without him. She also spoke of her focus on their injured son, saying she couldn't allow herself to grieve fully yet because their son was fighting to recover and would soon need to be told his father's hug would not come.

His brother, Ben, revealed further details about the accident, noting that some media reports used a different family name, as some relatives had changed theirs. Ben described Gil as athletic, funny, smart, and deeply devoted to his family, especially his three children. He recalled Gil's bravery from childhood, always being the first to act in a crisis. Ben emphasized the importance of maintaining a close-knit family, even when difficult.

Hallel, originally from Moshav Mikhmoret, had moved to Kibbutz Yizrael after marrying a local woman and had become an active member of the community. The kibbutz expressed shock and sorrow, offering support to his extended family and children. The Foreign Ministry is assisting with the repatriation of Hallel's body to Israel, with funeral arrangements pending.