Three-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Negev Regional Council Pool, in Critical Condition

A three-year-old boy drowned on Saturday in a pool at a home in the Shdot Negev Regional Council area. He was rescued unconscious and intubated by Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics and rushed to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in critical condition. MDA medic Uriel Cohen described arriving to find the child near the pool unconscious, initiating respiratory support and medication before transporting him.

This incident follows a series of recent drownings across Israel. On Wednesday, three teenagers were swept away at an unregulated beach near Palmachim; two 15-year-olds were rescued without injuries, but the third was found hours later in critical condition and later died at Wolfson Hospital. That same day, a one-year-old girl drowned in a pool in Beit Shean and was hospitalized in critical condition at Emek Medical Center.

Last Saturday, two 13-year-old girls from Abu Snan drowned in the Jordan River near Kibbutz Lehavot HaBashan after being swept away by the current. Their friend alerted rescue teams, but the girls were found dead hours later. Also that day, a 13-year-old boy drowned in a pool in Emek Hefer Regional Council and was hospitalized in serious condition after resuscitation.

The previous Friday saw three drowning incidents within hours: a man in his 40s drowned at Delila Beach in Ashkelon and was hospitalized in critical condition; two 21-year-olds drowned at Jerusalem Beach in Rishon Lezion and were rescued by lifeguards, one in serious and the other in moderate condition; and a 20-year-old man drowned at Atlit Beach and was hospitalized in serious condition.

These multiple drowning cases highlight ongoing water safety challenges across Israel during the summer months.