Man Who Lost Family in Crash to Swim Dead Sea for Ecology
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Guy Felixbrodt, who lost his father and sister in a car accident at age five, will swim the Dead Sea to advocate for its ecological preservation. The 51-year-old emotional counselor has a history of participating in extreme sports to raise awareness. The Dead Sea swim, organized by "Guardians of the Dead Sea," aims to highlight the environmental crisis and the declining water levels. Felixbrodt also works with trauma survivors and reservists, integrating his personal experiences with his professional support.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Guy Felixbrodt will swim the Dead Sea to raise awareness about its ecological crisis.
- Felixbrodt lost his father and sister in a fatal car accident at age five.
- The Dead Sea swim is organized by "Guardians of the Dead Sea" to promote preservation.
- The Dead Sea's water level drops approximately 1.2 meters each year.
- Felixbrodt works as an emotional counselor for trauma survivors and reservists.
- He has previously participated in challenging global sporting events like the Ironman triathlon.
Guy Felixbrodt, an emotional counselor specializing in post-traumatic growth, will participate in the Dead Sea swim to raise awareness about the "ecological disaster" facing the body of water. Felixbrodt, 51, lost his father and sister in a fatal car accident when he was five and a half years old. He has since engaged in various challenging sporting events globally, including the Ironman triathlon.
The Dead Sea swim, organized by the "Guardians of the Dead Sea" organization, features a 5-kilometer course and aims to promote the preservation of this unique natural wonder. This event commemorates a decade since swimmers from nine countries first crossed the Dead Sea in a historic swim recognized by Guinness World Records, an event designed to draw global attention to the ongoing environmental crisis. The organization has been working for ten years to increase public awareness, research, education, and cooperation for the future of the Dead Sea, whose water level drops by approximately 1.2 meters annually.
Unlike competitive races, this event, limited to 50 participants, is not about speed but about conveying an environmental and social message. Organizers hope to transform the athletic challenge into a sustained public campaign to broaden the base of individuals working to preserve the Dead Sea, whose condition impacts tourism in Israel and the region.
Felixbrodt, who lives in Moshav Megidim, has been a lecturer and emotional counselor since returning to Israel from the United States in December 2022. He has been assisting evacuees, Nova massacre survivors, and families of hostages and fallen soldiers through various organizations since October 7. He also works with reservists transitioning from combat to civilian life and with combat stress casualties, integrating emotional support with energy release and communication techniques. His work emphasizes practical tools, focusing on feelings and emotions, and incorporating physical and mental well-being, including movement, nutrition, and daily habits, with a strong emphasis on self-responsibility.
Felixbrodt began training for the swim two months ago, acquiring a special full-face snorkel mask to protect sensitive areas from saltwater. He has been training in Megidim and Haifa and recently practiced at Kalia Beach in the Dead Sea. He expressed strong anticipation for the event.