Israeli Diver Rescued After 20 Hours Adrift in Thailand

An Israeli man in his 60s was rescued off the coast of Koh Phangan, Thailand, after being adrift at sea for approximately 20 hours. The incident began Tuesday afternoon when the man, who was diving in clear weather, was caught in a sudden and extreme change in weather conditions, which caused him to be swept far from shore. While his family reported him missing to local police, members of the Israeli community on the island took the initiative to organize a large-scale independent search operation. They established an impromptu command center and searched throughout the night for the missing diver. The man's own resourcefulness is credited with saving his life. Recognizing the rapidly deteriorating sea conditions, a known local phenomenon, he chose not to fight the currents and instead swam to a secluded rock off one of the beaches. He clung to the rock for about 20 hours until Wednesday morning, when Israeli volunteers on jet skis spotted him during their search. He was rescued unharmed. "It was a great miracle. We woke up to good news after a night of extreme nerves and complete uncertainty," said one local Israeli resident, describing the community's swift mobilization. "From the moment we understood someone was missing, everyone here was on their feet. A real rescue operation was launched. The mutual aid here is exceptional, Israelis in Koh Phangan are the first to step up to help in any distress situation."