Two summer camp instructors drowned early yesterday morning as they and eight other campers were caught in the stormy sea off the coast of Ashkelon during a pre-dawn swim. The two were identified as Rachel Bochris, 17, of Moshav Zimrat, and Shlomo Nagar, a 20-year-old soldier, of Beth Hagedi. The tragedy occurred at the conclusion of a picnic that marked the end of the summer camp.
According to reports, some 40 camp instructors ranging in ages from 17 to 23 decided to celebrate the end of the region’s children summer camp with a picnic at the Ashkelon National Park. After dancing and singing and holding a barbeque, 10 instructors decided to take a swim in the nearby sea. Not realizing that the sea was storm, they dived in and were soon covered by six-foot waves.
Two managed to swim back to shore and called for help. The others continued to struggle in the raging sea. Police, firemen and dock workers rushed to the scene and managed to save all but Bochris and Nagar who were washed ashore later. They were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
