The family of longtime Israeli fitness instructor Gilad Yankelevich said his death is now being treated as an open police investigation, after earlier reports said he died in his sleep. In a statement published Tuesday, the family said Yankelevich was found dead at the base of his apartment building on the 16th floor in Hawaii, and that the exact circumstances are still unclear.
According to the statement, Honolulu police are actively investigating the case. The family asked for patience and privacy, and said that in accordance with Yankelevich’s wishes, he will be buried in Israel beside his parents. Yankelevich died about two weeks ago at the age of 71, and would have turned 72 next month.
The new details contradict earlier accounts. His close friend Haya Halperin, known from the show "Sh’at Khosher," told mako that, based on what she understood from the family, he likely suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep. "He went to sleep and simply did not wake up," she said. "It is an immense loss for me. He was like a brother."
Yankelevich, a former Israeli decathlon champion and record holder, became widely known through the fitness program "Guf BaTnua," which brought exercise to a broad audience and aired for years on Israeli Sports Channel. The channel said he remained physically active until his final day, calling him an inspiration to generations. In recent months, he had been working with the channel on a new program for an international audience, filming workouts at Israeli tourist sites including Masada and Jerusalem.
