Israeli Tourist Drowns During Kayaking Trip in Norway

A 24-year-old Israeli man from Jerusalem drowned on Tuesday morning while kayaking during a family vacation in Norway. According to a relative, the kayak the young man was on capsized, leading to his death. Two other Israelis who were with him on the kayak were rescued by local authorities who were called to the scene.

Israel's embassy in Oslo and the Foreign Ministry's Bureau of Israelis Abroad are handling the case with Norwegian authorities and are in constant contact with the victim's family. The international unit of ZAKA, a disaster victim identification organization, has also begun coordinating with Norwegian authorities and the Foreign Ministry.

ZAKA's efforts are focused on preventing an autopsy of the body, securing its release for burial, and arranging its transfer to Israel. "This is a tragic and difficult event," said Haim Weingarten, ZAKA's deputy operations director. "From the moment we received the report, we have been working through ZAKA's international unit, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, with the local authorities in Norway. Significant efforts are currently being made to prevent an autopsy, out of respect for the deceased, and to secure its release and transfer to Israel as soon as possible."