Latest news with #Tzach
New York Post
24-04-2025
- New York Post
Diver killed by sharks was a dad of 4 who tried to use GoPro stick to beat back predators
The diver killed by sharks off the coast of Israel has been identified as a father of four who used a GoPro camera stick to try and fend off the predators, according to his grieving family. Barak Tzach, 40, jumped in the water to film the sharks at the beach in Hadera when a chilling video showed him flailing in the water, yelling for help, as he was attacked and dragged out to sea. When the sharks started getting too close, he used the stick of the GoPro to 'push them away,' his family told Israel National News. The grieving relatives denied rumors that the dad had been trying to feed the sharks — as others were filmed doing at the same beach the previous week — and did not have any bait when he went in the ocean with only a mask, snorkel, fins and the tiny action camera. 'He went into the water to dive and photograph sharks, not to feed them or play with them,' Tzach's family said. 3 Barak Tzack was killed by sharks he was trying to photograph off Israel on Monday. obtained by the NYPost 3 The sharks have been an attraction for tourists enjoying Hadera's coastline. AFP via Getty Images 3 People look at sharks as a rescue team are searching for evidence after a diver was attacked by sharks in the water of Hadera Getty Images A fisherman who witnessed the terrifying attack told the family that Tzach 'swam alongside the shark and later moved a little further out. He photographed the sharks from a distance, but did not touch them or feed them.' Tzach, of Petach Tikva near Tel Aviv, was heard screaming, 'They're biting me!' before being dragged further out to sea on Monday, according to The Times of Israel. 'They're eating him, eating the man!' one terrified witness cried, according to disturbing video circulating on social media. Human remains were later discovered nearly 24 hours later on Tuesday after officials shut down the beach and launched a massive search in the area with divers, jetskis and helicopters. The remains were later identified as Tzach. Police said in an update that 'the search will continue to locate additional findings and we express our sincere condolences to the family who was informed of the results. We will accompany them throughout the complex process,' Israel National News reported. The exact breed of shark was not immediately known, however, marine life experts believe they were likely dusky or sandbar ones, which are typically harmless to humans and have been known to swim off Hadera's shores for years. Dusky sharks can reach up to 13 feet long and weigh 750 pounds, whereas sandbar sharks are smaller, growing to about 8 feet and 220 pounds. Yigael Ben-Ari, head of marine rangers at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said this would be just the third shark attack recorded in Israel in the last 80 years.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Daily Record
Dad 'tried to fight sharks with GoPro' before being brutally killed in attack
A dad-of-four who was tragically killed by sharks at a popular tourist spot attempted to fend off the predators using a GoPro camera, it has emerged. Authorities confirmed remains found at the scene of the attack off the coast of Israel match those of Barak Tzach , 40, from Petach Tikva. Disturbing footage shows the moment Tzach appeared to be struggling with the shark in the sea off Hadera as onlookers watched in horror, reports the Mirror . Forensic tests conducted at the Abu Kabir Institute later confirmed the remains belonged to Tzach, who entered the water with only "a mask, snorkel, fins and a GoPro camera – without any fish or bait." Footage captured his final moments, showing him thrashing in the water before it turned red. A relative told Israel National News: "In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident. I was told that he swam alongside the shark and later moved a little further out. "He photographed the sharks from a distance, but did not touch them or feed them. When they started getting too close to him, he used the stick of the GoPro camera to gently push them away." Witnesses recounted the harrowing moment a swimmer's cries for help rang out, shouting "they're biting me" before he began to flail and was dragged underwater. Just before the tragic incident, the shark had been captured on video weaving through children's legs in the shallow sea as shocked onlookers stood by, powerless to intervene. In a Facebook update, a woman identified by Israeli media as Tzach's spouse, shared her husband entered the water equipped with snorkelling gear and an underwater camera. She noted it wasn't his first time swimming in that area of the sea, saying: "In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident. "I was told that he swam alongside a shark and later moved slightly away in a more open direction. He filmed the sharks from a distance but didn't touch or feed them. "When they started to get too close to him, he used the GoPro's stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him back to shore, and Barak started swimming slowly toward him – and then he was attacked." Police and emergency services announced their ongoing search for additional remains following their grim discovery on Tuesday. "We express our sincere condolences to the family who was informed of the results. We will accompany them throughout the complex process," stated officers. Deputy Fire Chief Doron Almashali added: "After a day and a half of intensive effort, we have found what appears to be part of the missing person. Naturally, these findings must undergo thorough examinations. "We conducted our search pattern based on careful analysis of underwater currents, and it was precisely in that area where the remains were discovered."
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Israel shark attack: Dad-of-4 'tried to fight predators with GoPro as they killed him'
Police have confirmed remains that had been found at the site of the attack on Israel's Mediterranean coast matched those of Barak Tzach, aged 40, who went for a swim on his way home from work A dad-of-four who was horrifically killed by sharks at a popular tourist destination desperately tried to fight the predators off with a GoPro, it has been reported. Barak Tzach, aged 40, has now been confirmed as the man who died following a two-day search. Police have confirmed remains that had been found at the site of the attack on Israel's Mediterranean coast matched those of Barak Tzach, aged 40, from Petach Tikva. Distressing footage shows the moment the man appeared to be battling with the predator in the sea off Hadera, Israel, in front of horrified crowds. Forensic tests conducted at the Abu Kabir Institute later confirmed the remains belonged to Tzach, who had entered the water armed only with 'a mask, snorkel, fins and a GoPro camera – without any fish or bait.' His final moments were caught on footage showing him thrashing in the water before it turned red. A relative told Israel National News: "In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident. I was told that he swam alongside the shark and later moved a little further out. "He photographed the sharks from a distance, but did not touch them or feed them. When they started getting too close to him, he used the stick of the GoPro camera to gently push them away." Witnesses described hearing the swimmer's desperate screams for help as he shouted "they're biting me" before he started thrashing around and was pulled under the water. Moments before the attack the shark was filmed swimming between children's legs in the sea in the shallow waters as stunned beachgoers watched on, unable to help. In a Facebook post, a woman identified by Israeli media as Tzach's wife, said he had entered the waters with snorkelling gear and an underwater camera. It was not his first time swimming in this part of the sea, she said. 'In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident, I was told that he swam alongside a shark and later moved slightly away in a more open direction,' she wrote. 'He filmed the sharks from a distance but didn't touch or feed them. "When they started to get too close to him, he used the GoPro's stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him back to shore, and Barak started swimming slowly toward him – and then he was attacked.' Police and emergency services now say they are continuing to search for more remains, after their gruesome find on Tuesday. 'We express our sincere condolences to the family who was informed of the results. We will accompany them throughout the complex process,' officers said. Deputy Fire Chief Doron Almashali added: 'After a day and a half of intensive effort, we have found what appears to be part of the missing person. Naturally, these findings must undergo thorough examinations. We conducted our search pattern based on careful analysis of underwater currents, and it was precisely in that area where the remains were discovered."
Daily Record
23-04-2025
- Daily Record
Victim of rare shark attack while snorkelling confirmed as dad-of-four
A father of four has died in a rare and tragic shark attack off Israel's Mediterranean coast, after entering the water to film sharks near the city of Hadera. Barak Tzach, 40, was confirmed as the victim following a two-day search by Israeli police and rescue teams, who said remains found at the scene matched his DNA. The attack, which was captured on video, appeared to show Tzach struggling in the water as horrified onlookers watched from the shore. Tzach's wife, Sarit, has spoken out to dispel speculation about the incident, stating in a Facebook post that her husband had gone into the water with snorkelling gear and a GoPro camera purely to document the sharks — not to feed or provoke them, reports the Mirror. 'Barak entered the water to dive and document the sharks, not to feed them or play with them,' she wrote. 'He entered the sea equipped with a snorkel, mask, fins, and a GoPro camera – without anything else, and certainly not with fish or bait, contrary to rumours.' She added that a fisherman who witnessed the attack said Tzach was filming the animals from a distance and used a camera stick only to gently push them away when they came too close. As he began to swim back to shore, he was suddenly attacked. The waters off Hadera have long attracted a population of endangered dusky and sandbar sharks, which often swim close to the power station's warm outflow. The presence of the sharks has turned the area into an unofficial wildlife viewing spot, drawing curious swimmers and snorkellers — some of whom have been seen tugging on the animals' tails or attempting to feed them, behaviour that has been condemned by conservationists and authorities. Swimming is officially banned in the area due to the danger, but many ignore the restrictions. 'This is undoubtedly a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family,' said Yigael Ben-Ari, head of marine rangers at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. He noted that shark attacks in Israel are extremely rare, with only two other recorded incidents — one of them fatal — dating back to the 1940s. Authorities have closed the beach and surrounding areas following the incident and are continuing to search for further remains. Dusky sharks can grow up to four metres long and weigh as much as 350 kilograms, while sandbar sharks are smaller, but still powerful, reaching lengths of 2.5 metres. Videos filmed in recent days show the sharks swimming alarmingly close to beachgoers in shallow water, prompting renewed calls for tighter safety measures. Sarit Tzach said her husband was a careful, respectful diver and hoped that sharing the truth about his final moments would 'put an end to the rumours' surrounding his death.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Israel shark attack: Remains confirmed of dad-of-four as wife 'tells truth' of fatal encounter
Barak Tzach, aged 40, has now been confirmed as the man who died after a two-day search off the coast of Hadera, Israel, following a shark attack witnessed by beachgoers A dad-of-four died after being attacked when snorkelling in the sea with his wife saying how he would film but not "touch or feed" the predators as she "tells the truth" of the moments leading up to the horror attack. Barak Tzach, aged 40, has now been confirmed as the man who died following a two-day search with police saying remains that had been found at the site of the attack on Israel's Mediterranean coast matched those of the man. Distressing footage shows the moment the man appeared to be battling with the predator in the sea off Hadera, in front of horrified crowds. A shiver of endangered dusky and sandbar sharks has been swimming close to the area for years, attracting onlookers who approach the sharks and drawing pleas from conservation groups for authorities to separate people from the wild animal. In recent days, the waters drew large crowds who were seen swimming with the sharks. Some tugged on their tails and threw them food. Authorities condemned the behaviour and have issued warnings not to approach the sharks. Swimming is banned at the beach, but bathers enter the water regardless. In a Facebook post, a woman identified by Israeli media as Tzach's wife, said he had entered the waters with snorkelling gear and an underwater camera. It was not his first time swimming in this part of the sea, she said. 'Barak entered the water to dive and document the sharks, not to feed them or play with them,' wrote Sarit Tzach. She said a fisherman who was with her husband said he did not touch or feed them. She stated: 'With deep sorrow and wordless pain, we announce the death of our husband and father. I would like to put an end to the rumours that are being spread around the circumstances of his death and tell the truth. 'On the day of his death, Barak arrived at the beach after a day of work, as he often did. He entered the sea equipped with a snorkel, mask, fins, and a GoPro camera – without anything else, and certainly not with fish or bait, contrary to rumours." When the sharks approached too closely, she said, he used the stick holding his camera to 'gently distance them.' The fisherman then called Tzach back to the shore and as he slowly returned he was attacked, Ms Tzach wrote. 'In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident, I was told that he swam alongside a shark and later moved slightly away in a more open direction,' she wrote. 'He filmed the sharks from a distance but didn't touch or feed them. When they started to get too close to him, he used the GoPro's stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him back to shore, and Barak started swimming slowly toward him – and then he was attacked.' It was just the third recorded shark attack in Israel, according to Yigael Ben-Ari, head of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority's marine rangers. One person was killed in an attack in the 1940s, he said. Police and rescue teams held a two-day search after the attack and they said they were continuing to look for remains. Israeli authorities closed the beach and nearby ones as well after the attack. Israelis flocked in large numbers to the beach during a weeklong holiday, sharing the waters with a dozen or more sharks. Dusky sharks can grow to four metres long and weigh about 350 kilograms. Sandbar sharks are smaller, growing to about 2.5 metres and 100 kilograms. One video showed a shark swimming right up to bathers in thigh-deep water. 'What a huge shark!' the man filming exclaims, as the shark approaches him. 'Whoa! He's coming toward us!' 'Don't move!' he implores a boy standing nearby, who replies: 'I'm leaving.' The man then asks: 'What, are you afraid of the sharks?'
