Israeli father killed in Slovenia while rescuing seven-year-old son from ravine fall

Gail Hillel, a 44-year-old Israeli from Kibbutz Yizrael, died in Slovenia on Saturday while attempting to rescue his seven-year-old son, who had fallen into a ravine near the Slap Savica waterfall in the Bohinj area. After visiting the waterfall, the family stopped at a rest area when the boy wandered off and fell. Hillel fell into the ravine while searching for him and was later found fatally injured in the Savica River channel. The child sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to the University Medical Center in Ljubljana. Rescue teams, some of whom were conducting a nearby training exercise, quickly responded to the scene, descending nearly 60 meters to assist both father and son. Slovenian police are investigating the incident, and local rescuers expressed their condolences, stating, "We sincerely hope the child recovers quickly and in the best possible way."