(haipo) The recent holiday season included a series of significant rescue events on Haifa's beaches, in which four kite surfers who were in distress were rescued about 2 miles from Bat Galim Beach, and a woman who had entered the sea and was lost contact with for several hours was located. The events ended thanks to close cooperation between the Haifa Municipality's Coast Guard and the Northern Maritime Policing Unit of the Israel Police.
Dramatic rescue of four kitesurfers about 4 km from the beach
In one incident, a report was received of several surfers who were unable to return to shore in the Bat Galim area and appeared to be in distress a long way from the shore. The Northern Marine Policing team, under the command of Samer Rinavi and assisted by Ofek Mor Yosef, both residents of Haifa, immediately went to the scene and called the Haifa lifeguards. The teams teamed up and managed to rescue four kitesurfers from a distance of about 2 miles, nearly 4 km from the shore. The surfers were brought to shore in good condition and did not require medical treatment. The cooperation involved the Marine Policing team and the Bat Galim lifeguard team, including lifeguards Elias Talhami and Tawfik Diab. The beach director, Baruch Harosh, called the lifeguards to provide first aid and participate in the rescue operation.
Locating a woman who disappeared at sea for hours
In another incident, a report was received of a woman who entered the sea in the afternoon at Bat Galim Beach, after which contact with her was lost. The woman was declared missing for several hours, and Haifa lifeguards, together with members of the Marine Police Unit, went searching for her. After prolonged efforts, the rescue team managed to locate her a long distance from the place where she entered the sea, and she was safely transferred to shore. The rescue team in this incident operated under the command of Arkan Mansour, together with Shaham Klim Mogilnitsky, and in cooperation with the lifeguards of the Coastal Division in the Haifa Municipality. The commander of the Northern Marine Police Unit, Lt. Col. Ran Vered, and the unit's teams operated throughout the events in full coordination with the Coastal Division personnel.
"Every second can be critical"
Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, said: "Behind every such event there are people who found themselves in distress at one moment, and there are professionals who understand that every second can be critical. I would like to thank the Haifa Municipality lifeguards and the marine police for their determination, professionalism, and cooperation that ended in saving lives. Haifa is a city of the sea, and our responsibility is to do everything possible so that the public can enjoy it safely."
Haifa Municipality Director General, David LuriaHe added: "The recent events illustrate the importance of rapid operational coordination between all parties operating on the city's beaches. Coast Guard lifeguards and marine police officers worked together, in real time and under complex conditions, and brought the events to a successful conclusion."
"Working together saves lives"
Rita Sassi, Director of the Beaches Department at the Haifa Municipality, said: "These events illustrate how important the joint work between our lifeguards and the maritime police is and can be the difference between an event that ends peacefully and a disaster. I am proud of our lifeguards, who work vigilantly and professionally at all hours of operation, and of the excellent cooperation with the Israel Police. In the event of distress at sea, there is no room for loss of time; rapid identification, rapid response, and joint work save lives."
The Haifa Municipality reminds the public that one should enter the sea only at designated beaches, during the hours of operation of the rescue services, and follow the instructions of the lifeguards.