ZAKA Divers Share Harrowing Rescue Stories and Water Safety Warnings from Israel's Rivers and Seas

In the second episode of the national initiative "Project 0" by Kikar HaShabbat, rescue diver Moshe Mans met with Dror Giles, deputy commander of ZAKA Tel Aviv's diving unit, to discuss the dangers of drowning and water rescues in Israel. Giles, a secular kibbutznik from the Gaza envelope area, dedicates significant time and effort to saving lives, especially within the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities, who often lack swimming experience and enter hazardous waters without lifeguards.

The interview reveals the deadly physics of rip currents and slippery surfaces in reservoirs and streams, emphasizing that water does not discriminate and can be fatal regardless of belief or background. Giles explains that many victims underestimate the risks of calm-looking water areas, which often conceal strong currents pulling swimmers underwater. He stresses the importance of floating and swimming parallel to the shore to escape these currents.

ZAKA's diving unit uses modern search techniques, including underwater scooters and tethered divers, to locate drowning victims quickly, aiming to act within the "golden hour" when survival chances are highest. Giles recounts a dramatic rescue in the turbulent Yarkon River where a young woman was saved from hypothermia and transported alive in a ZAKA ambulance for the first time in the organization's history.

Giles delivers a heartfelt message urging caution, especially to yeshiva students and others unfamiliar with water dangers: "The signs saying 'No swimming without a lifeguard' are written in blood." He highlights the universal grief of families awaiting their loved ones and his personal commitment to helping all people regardless of their background.

The next episode of "Project 0" will focus on prevention, featuring senior lifeguards and surfers teaching proper swimming techniques and water survival skills to reduce drowning incidents.