Oxygen poisoning killed IDF Navy cadet

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Oxygen poisoning killed Navy cadet, IDF probe finds

By Anshel Pfeffer


An Israel Navy cadet killed in a training accident last month died from oxygen poisoning, the Israel Defense Forces announced yesterday.

Sergeant Gal Azoulay, 19, a cadet in a training course for the elite Shayetet 13 unit, died at the Ashdod Port early December 7.

Around 2 A.M., during a routine diving exercise off the coast of the southern city, Azoulay's diving partner noticed he was in distress and pulled him from the water. He died on shore 40 minutes later.

The navy temporarily suspended all training exercises following the accident, and immediately appointed an investigative committee to look into the incident.

Azoulay was about four months away from completing the training course. The dive was a group exercise, carried out in pairs, simulating a combat dive at an enemy port.

The divers had completed similar exercises dozens of times since the beginning of the course.

The exercise was supervised by Navy commandos on boats as well as on the beach, and an ambulance and a medic were standing by. The dive was supposed to last two or three hours, and each diver was to take turns being the lead diver.

Some 90 minutes after the dive began, when Azoulay became lead diver, he stopped responding to the routine once-a-minute check. When his partner realized that he was not responding, he carried him to the surface and fired a flare gun to mark their location. Within seconds, a boat arrived and Azoulay was given CPR. He was pronounced dead on shore 40 minutes later.

Azoulay's commanders said that he was a very good, professional soldier who displayed excellent skills during previous dives. All divers are asked if they feel well before every dive, and divers who feel ill are not permitted to take part in the exercise, they said.

About three years ago, an 18-year-old from the same unit was killed during a training exercise meant to test underwater breathing.

Israel's interception of a Hezbollah-bound arms-laden ship a month ago shone the limelight on Shayetet 13. The IDF does not normally talk about the unit's work, except for successful operations useful for political purposes or failed operations entailing casualties.
 

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