Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 28, 2008 Tamuz 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:52 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  2
Last update - 23:48 27/07/2008
VIDEO / Members of elite IAF rescue unit head to Laos to search for missing Israeli
By Eli Ashkenazi, Jack Khoury, Barak Ravid, and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: laos, israel, rescue

The comrades of missing Israeli tourist Avner Bardugo from the elite Israel Air Force rescue unit 669 headed for Laos on Sunday in efforts to locate their friend who has not been seen since his canoe capsized on the Mekong River on Friday.

Bardugo's family also paid for a helicopter to be sent to the scene of the accident to help with the search.

Bardugo, 25, of Ramat Yishai, was with an Israeli traveling companion, who was recovered after their canoe hit a rock and capsized.
Advertisement
Israel's consul in Vietnam, Doron Hovav, joined to the search efforts, which are being headed by Hilik Magnus. "We are trying to work quickly," said Magnus. "We have experience from prior incidents. The river is wide, the water flows quickly and is murky."

Bardugo's mother, Rama, described her son as "a friend to everyone and a true leader and survivor." She added that since her husband's death nine years ago, Bardugo has helped raise his four siblings. "He is simply a diamond," his mother said.

The foreign minister and Bardugo's travel insurance company were briefed on the situation. The first search team set out for Laos Friday afternoon.

Iris Beck, a cousin of Bardugo's on Saturday said that his travel companion "called the family, which immediately set up a war room where the search efforts are being coordinated."

Bardugo's family is asking for donations to help them with the rescue mission. Money can be donated from within Israel in NIS 10 increments by sending the text message "hilutz" in Hebrew to *3377, or deposited to Bank Discount branch 095, account number 12878.

Bardugo is a captain in the IAF. He went on leave for the trip, which began in early July and was scheduled to end six weeks later.

Related articles:
  • Friends, coworkers remember beloved teacher killed in car accident in India Saturday
  • Israeli tourist missing after reported rafting accident in Peru
  • New Zealand rabbis join search for missing Israeli tourist
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    West Bank drought
    Palestinian Water Authority calls on Israel to rethink its water policies.
    Death of an artist
    Egyptian filmmaker's controversial work earned him international recognition.
      1.   Missing SAR crew 16:03  |  johnymac 27/07/08
      2.   Johnymac from Ireland donation 01:26  |  Free Gilad Shalit 28/07/08
     Read & React
    Tensions high in Gaza as Hamas cracks down on rival groups
    Responses: 228
    Israeli troops kill Hamas man behind Dimona terror attack
    Responses: 96
    IDF officers: Yeshiva teachers incite W. Bank teens to violence
    Responses: 83
    Report: Rabbis slam removal, publication of note Obama left in Western Wall cracks
    Responses: 61
    Aluf Benn: 'Hamastan' is prototyope for future Palestinian state
    Responses: 50
    Rosner's Domain
    What American Jews believe (WTR)
    Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left
    The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR)
    Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR)


    More Headlines
    15:53 Shin Bet chief: Hezbollah deal may spur abductions
    01:02 Pentagon chief: War with Iran 'disastrous on number of levels'
    00:16 Israeli troops in Hebron kill Hamas man behind Dimona attack
    01:39 14 people killed, 140 hurt in twin explosions in Istanbul
    01:30 Barak mulls acquiring U.S. anti-rocket system to protect Sderot
    00:06 Police: Olmert to be questioned numerous times in corruption probes
    22:36 High Court slams gov't for shunning ruling on funding for yeshivas
    20:43 Iran eyes seat on UN Security Council as Asia representative
    17:43 Lawyer seeks police probe into removal, publication of note Obama put in the Western Wall
    18:41 Tensions high in Gaza as Hamas cracks down on rival groups
    22:20 West Bank residents face severe water shortage as drought continues
    23:13 VIDEO / MK Lieberman: Either charge me for corruption or drop case
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Dan Hotels Israel
    Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation
    Yossi Avrahami Presents:
    New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat
    Holyland Park
    Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved