A veteran kitesurfer, Lior Dadon, aged 46, met a tragic end while kitesurfing off the coast of Bat Yam during a storm. Footage has emerged, revealing the moment powerful gusts of wind lifted and hurled surfers through the air, including Dadon. Friends and fellow kitesurfers describe the experienced rider as being caught in a sudden wind vortex, leaving no time to react. This incident has left the kitesurfing community in shock and mourning.
Dadon, a longtime enthusiast with over two decades of experience, was a beloved figure in the surfing community. His former wife paid tribute to him on Facebook, expressing her sorrow: 'You loved the wind so much, a passion of 20 years. You were always waiting for windy days. In the end, the wind took you.'
The accident occurred in Bat Yam, and emergency services reported that Dadon entered the water on Friday afternoon. Strong winds lifted him from the sea, propelling him over 150 meters and slamming him into rocks. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene, with another surfer sustaining minor injuries.
A friend who was kitesurfing with Dadon, Ronen Noach, described the scene as an extreme wind vortex, stating that Dadon was carried by the wind for approximately 200 meters and likely hit his head on a rock. Another surfer, Oren, described the surreal moment as if it were something out of a movie.
The authorities had previously warned of dangerous conditions along the coastline due to the severe weather. This tragic incident has sparked discussions and raised awareness about the risks associated with kitesurfing in extreme weather conditions.
