Swede leaps to death at Israeli airport
A Swedish tourist died early on Monday morning after jumping over a safety railing at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The man first threw his son over the railing, but the eight year old boy survived the drop.
Two eyewitnesses saw the man lift his son and throw him onto the railway tracks at the airport from a height of 7 or 8 metres, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports.
"Immediately thereafter he jumped also, suffering fatal injuries. Resuscitation efforts were administered immediately on the man, but he died almost instantaneously. The boy was taken in moderate to serious condition to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer," police commander Maurice Harush told Army Radio.
One of the witnesses, a cleaning worker, "waved at an approaching train that came slowly into the station, managing to stop the train barely several metres before it would have hit them," said Harush.
According to Israeli police, the man and his son arrived in the country on 8th February. Police do not know how they spent their time in Israel.
"They were meant to board a flight to Vienna [on Sunday], and they probably missed their flight. They stayed at the terminal since then," said Harush.
Swedish authorities have contacted the man's family to advise of the death.
An Israeli police investigator has questioned the boy, who is said to be responsive, Haaretz reports.
Comments
See Also
Two eyewitnesses saw the man lift his son and throw him onto the railway tracks at the airport from a height of 7 or 8 metres, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports.
"Immediately thereafter he jumped also, suffering fatal injuries. Resuscitation efforts were administered immediately on the man, but he died almost instantaneously. The boy was taken in moderate to serious condition to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer," police commander Maurice Harush told Army Radio.
One of the witnesses, a cleaning worker, "waved at an approaching train that came slowly into the station, managing to stop the train barely several metres before it would have hit them," said Harush.
According to Israeli police, the man and his son arrived in the country on 8th February. Police do not know how they spent their time in Israel.
"They were meant to board a flight to Vienna [on Sunday], and they probably missed their flight. They stayed at the terminal since then," said Harush.
Swedish authorities have contacted the man's family to advise of the death.
An Israeli police investigator has questioned the boy, who is said to be responsive, Haaretz reports.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.