80-Year-Old Barry Levitt Dies in Jerusalem Balcony Collapse

Barry Levitt, aged 80, died following the collapse of a balcony on Monday in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem. He was initially rescued unconscious and in critical condition from the balcony, which fell onto Angel Bakery below. Medical teams later declared his death. Levitt's wife sustained minor injuries, as did two teenagers aged 16 and 17 who were also present.

The balcony was located on the second floor of a three-story residential building on KKL Street. The collapse caused significant damage to both the building and the bakery on the ground floor. Police officer Superintendent Moshe Ohayon stated that a criminal investigation has been launched into the incident.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that an engineer had visited the site earlier that day after identifying structural concerns with the balcony. Despite issuing instructions, the balcony collapsed hours later. Jerusalem Municipality responded by dispatching a hazardous buildings team and the city engineer to assess the structure's stability, identify risks, and provide guidance. The municipality pledged to act according to professional recommendations once inspections are complete.