After a three-day search effort, authorities located the body of Yamam officer Sergeant First Class Itai Parson, aged 23, from Haifa, who disappeared while going freediving at Students Beach in the city last Thursday.
Itai entered the water in the afternoon while his family remained in a kayak. After not returning to the surface for a while, the family called emergency services. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
Itai enlisted in Fighter Pilots Training in 2023 and, in August of that year, transferred to the Border Police. Upon completing his combat training, he continued to a Mista'arvim Course, after which he was assigned to the Yamam's Lookout and Drone Squad. Last Decemeber, he singed on as a career officer in the unit. Itai is survived by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and his girlfriend.
The operation to locate Itai included officers from the Carmel district police, the maritime policing unit, volunteers from the Jeep unit, members of ZAKA, members of the Lahav Hatzalah and Fire Rescue unit, and additional forces. At the same time, a helicopter from the police air unit, drones, boats, and jet skis are scanning the water, alongside ground teams, mounted units, and motorcyclists carrying out searches along the length of the shoreline.