An eight-year-old boy fell Wednesday into a river in southern Israel and was taken into an underground pipeline. He was rescued by police unannounced.
Yagel Eitam and his family, from Gush Etzion in the West Bank, reached Nahal Oved as part of a tour. As he watched the stream, he slipped and fell into the river.
Yagel eitam
(Photo: Matan Tzuri)
His father immediately jumped into the water to fish out, only to find that Yagel had been trapped in an underground pipe that runs under the nearby road.
The father, not realizing where Yagel was, went into the pipe himself to look for his son, just for Yagel to crawl out of the other end into the bushes that was nearby, looking distressed.
Police crews and Magen David Adom were called to the scene and treated the child on the spot.
Nahal Oved Stream, with road in the middle
(Photo: Matan Tzuri)
Yagel ‘s mother, Shulamit Eitam, said, “Yagel slipped and fell into the stream and just disappeared. My husband jumped into the water but it was already too late because Yagel came out the other way by crossing the road while it was inside an underground pipe “she added.
“I feel like he received his life as a gift. This event could have ended completely differently. We thank God for this miracle. We still trying to understand, but the main thing is that Yagel is healthy and in one piece, “she said.