Teen Volunteer Wounded in Northern Israel Explosion Continues Aiding Classmates

A 15-year-old high school student, Yair Frankenthal, a volunteer for Magen David Adom (MDA), was injured by an exploding munition near Israel's northern border but continued to provide aid to his injured classmates from a school trip. The incident occurred on October 12, during an annual excursion of 50 students and teachers from the ORT Ma'alot religious high school to the Ramim Ridge near the Lebanese border. While hiking, the students discovered an unexploded munition, which detonated, killing 14-year-old Yair Wilensky and injuring 23 others. Frankenthal, who sustained shrapnel wounds to his shoulder and leg, described how he began assessing casualties despite his own injuries. He explained that while other students called emergency services, he attended to a severely wounded peer, performing CPR until an MDA paramedic arrived. Frankenthal's younger brother was also injured, and the student instructed his brother's friend on how to stop bleeding so he could assist the more seriously wounded.

David Radako, a 29-year-old teacher, paramedic, and MDA volunteer from Kiryat Shmona, was the first responder on the scene. He described the chaotic and difficult scene, with wounded students scattered and others tending to their injured friends. Radako noted that students had already applied several tourniquets before his arrival. He coordinated with MDA dispatch and incoming ambulance crews, providing instructions to the students assisting with first aid.

The excursion route was approved by the Ministry of Education and security services. Ynet learned that the ministry's special center permitted the group to follow a route listed as "Israel Trail 2051." However, this designation appears to encompass two parallel trails, one of which had been closed due to the lingering dangers from past conflicts with Hezbollah. An investigation is underway to determine if the group mistakenly followed the "Panoramic Road of the Ramim Ridge" (marked green) instead of the approved "Israel Trail" (marked orange-blue-white). Questions are also being raised about the decision to allow a school hike near areas known to contain unexploded ordnance from previous military activity.

As of October 13, Ziv Hospital reported that 11 of the 14 individuals hospitalized from the explosion had been released. Three remain under treatment, including two in pediatric intensive care.