The party, organized by a marketing firm and gathering about fifty people at an estate in the central Israel town of Karmei Yosef, promised to be quite enjoyable. But according to The Times of Israel, part of the bottom caved in while six people were bathing in the pool, creating a gaping hole (“sinkhole” in English) 13 meters deep.
#Israel 🇮🇱 – A 30-year-old man was sucked into an underground tunnel. A hole was formed in the middle of a swimming pool in Karmei Yosef village while more than 50 people were in it.pic.twitter.com/dvDn1gHTCj
—ⓃⒺⓌⓈ—ⒾⓃⓉ·۰•●🌐 (@NewsInt_) July 21, 2022
“The water level suddenly began to drop and a hole opened, creating a whirlpool that sucked two people in,” rescuers said. The first made the ascent and was treated with minor injuries by the rescue workers.
The second man, 32 years old, did not survive the fall. It took rescuers four hours to reach him and declare him dead.
האסון במסיבת הבריכה | עו”ד אמיר ציון, סנגורם בעלי הווילה הווילה המשטרה ביקשה לגבות מאנשים בכרמי יוסף, והרחיקה את מהיישוב מהיישוב מפגש. עניין ההיתר לבריכה. השופטת אמרה חד חד משמעית מהמסמכים#בחציהיום @liat_regev
צילום: יוסי אלוני, פלאש 90 pic.twitter.com/OooyfgsMpk— כאן | רשת ב (@ReshetBet) July 22, 2022
According to the rescue services, the operation was complicated by fears of a second collapse, forcing them to erect a structure to consolidate the pool’s surface before they could rescue the victim.
The owner of the villa, where such parties are often held, had not applied for a permit to build his swimming pool. He was heard by the police, who began an investigation.