Israeli Woman Suffers Severe Facial Injuries in Tel Aviv Surfing Accident

Michal Levi Gorlik, 51, from Binyamina and an El Al control center employee, sustained serious facial injuries during a surfing training session at a wave pool in Tel Aviv about ten days ago. Having taken up surfing two and a half years ago, Michal described the sport as a major part of her life, traveling internationally to surf and connecting with people worldwide. During the session, she fell from a wave and was struck in the face by her surfboard, which broke on impact. She recalled nearly losing consciousness and initially fearing her eye was coming out of its socket.

Michal was immediately taken by ambulance for medical evaluation, where a CT scan revealed two nasal fractures and a fracture in the eye socket. Due to swelling, surgery could not be performed immediately. After initial treatment, she was admitted to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center near her home for further care. Dr. Noa Barik, an ENT and head and neck surgeon at the center, explained that Michal underwent nasal fracture reconstruction once swelling subsided and is scheduled for additional surgery to repair the eye socket fracture.

Dr. Barik emphasized the urgency of treating nasal injuries to prevent complications such as hematoma formation, which can cause cartilage death and permanent nasal collapse. She advised immediate emergency care if symptoms like severe pain, breathing difficulty, nasal deformity, or clear nasal discharge occur. The complexity increases with eye socket fractures, requiring imaging and ophthalmologic assessment to rule out muscle entrapment or eye displacement, which can lead to double vision or sunken eyes. Delayed or complex cases may necessitate further corrective surgeries.

Michal’s accident highlights the risks involved in surfing, even in controlled environments, and the importance of prompt and specialized medical intervention for facial trauma.