Israeli Teen Injured in Golan Heights Fall Rescued After Complex Airlift Operation

A ninth-grade student from the Vizhnitz Hasidic Talmud Torah in Beit Shemesh was moderately injured after falling approximately four meters at the Har Berkan lookout in the Gilboa mountain range. The accident occurred on Wednesday during a group hike in the challenging terrain of northern Israel. The boy fell onto rocky, difficult-to-access ground, prompting an immediate emergency response.

Due to the complex topography and strong winds at the site, the rescue helicopter faced significant difficulties in evacuating the injured student. The helicopter pilot had to perform an unusual maneuver by releasing fuel to reduce the aircraft's weight and improve stability for multiple airlift attempts. After several unsuccessful aerial rescue attempts, ground rescue teams carried out a strenuous physical evacuation, transporting the boy on a stretcher up the steep trail to a safer location where he could be airlifted.

The student was conscious but suffered various injuries and was flown directly to Emek Medical Center in Afula. Medical teams described his condition as moderate. Following comprehensive examinations and imaging tests, doctors reported all results were normal, and his condition improved to stable. He remains hospitalized in the pediatric ward for observation and further care, with no discharge date set yet. The entire rescue operation lasted about three hours, during which the boy's classmates and family prayed for his recovery.