Four-year-old Yuval Kogan was found Friday afternoon more than 24 hours after he went missing from Hofit Beach, Ashkelon, on Thursday morning, according to a video posted to social media Friday.
Kogan was found by two horse riders who were part of the search.
Volunteer teams from ZAKA Missing Persons Unit cooperated with Israel Police, emergency forces, and rescue workers, using all of the organization’s search and rescue equipment to locate Kogan
“Almost 24 hours have passed since my son was lost. I beg anyone who can come help, any possible rescuers, I’m asking everyone to come,” Kogan’s mother, Dina, told Walla on Friday. “I’m worried. I’m afraid it could be a kidnapping.”
President Isaac Herzog spoke with Dina Kogan on the phone, expressing his deep concern, issuing support for the family, and confirming that he is in contact with Police Commissioner Daniel Levy and Shin Bet Director David Zini with regard to any updates on the search.
Hundreds of police officers and volunteers searched for Kogan. The search was conducted throughout the night and day by air, sea and land, with technological resources and rescue teams deployed in an effort to find him.
After the report of his disappearance was received, police dispatched helicopters, the Marine Police Unit, divers, the municipal rescue unit and additional emergency responders to the scene. Search efforts are focused along the shoreline and the surrounding areas.
Authorities are searching from the northern coast of the city of Ashkelon to the settlement of Nitzanim. This is a sandy area with many dunes, both high and low, as well as many hiding places where the child may be found. As the hours pass, concerns about Kogan’s fate grow.
United Hatzalah’s Drone Unit deployed a specialized command center and a fleet of drones to aid in the search, the emergency service confirmed. Volunteers also searched the area on foot, United Hatzalah added.
Head of the Southern District Police, Assistant-Chief Chaim Bublil, held a situational assessment at the scene with senior police officers and rescue officials. Following the assessment, Bublil instructed commanders to expand the search operation into the nighttime hours and to employ all resources available to Israel Police until the child is located.
Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Galam also arrived at the scene, saying that municipal inspection and policing teams were working alongside Israel Police in the search effort.
Israel Police call on public to remain vigilant, call with any information
Police urged the public to remain vigilant and asked anyone with information that could help locate the child to contact the Israel Police emergency hotline by dialing 100 or the Ashkelon Police Station immediately.
Israel Police reiterated its appeal to the public, asking anyone with information regarding the child’s whereabouts, or any information that could assist in locating him, to call the Israel Police emergency hotline at 100 or the Ashkelon Police Station at 08-6771440.
Israel Police routinely launch large-scale multi-agency search operations when children are reported missing, bringing together police units, aerial support, marine teams, rescue organizations and local authorities to maximize the chances of locating missing persons as quickly as possible.
