from www.israelwire.com

Wednesday, March 08, 2000 16:26

Firefighter falls 50 meters to his death

(IsraelWire-3/8) A 25-year-old fireman who was responding to a fire in an abandoned northern Tel Aviv building fell to his death on Sunday. The firefighter did not see a well inside the house and fell some 50 meters.

Firefighter Shalom Sharabi was married three months ago. Shortly after his fall, his parents arrived on the scene and remained -- praying silently as the rescue for the firefighter continued, lasting several hours. About four hours later, the bitter news was given to the parents that their son was found at the bottom of the well.

Shortly following the accident, the Israel Air Force was called and a search & rescue team was dispatched. Members of the team, using repelling equipment, were sent into the well to search for Sharabi. The search was a slow process with the experts agreeing there was a danger of the walls of the well collapsing, burying the victim and the rescuers.

A neighborhood committee ten days ago sent a letter to Tel Aviv City Hall, demanding that the abandoned structure be sealed off to prevent an area child from being injured inside.

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