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Young couple drown after getting trapped in flooded lift

A young couple has died after they became trapped in a flooded lift.

Dean Shoshani and Stav Harari, both 25 years old, died when they became stuck in a lift at the parking level of an apartment building which filled with water in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday.

According to local media, 83 millimetres of rain fell in coastal Israeli cities on Saturday within just a few hours.

Reports said emergency services had to use scuba gear to rescue the victims, sawing through the roof of the lift to reach the pair.

Ms Harari was reportedly transferred to the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv in critical condition and suffering from hypothermia.

Pictured are Dean Shoshani and Stav Harari, both 25 years old.
Stav Harari and Dean Shoshani both drowned in a flooded lift shaft. Source: CEN/Australscope

Doctors could not revive her. Mr Shoshani was reportedly reanimated at the scene and later taken to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer where he died of his injuries.

It’s not clear if the couple lived in the building.

Some residents and a building tenant claim emergency services took too long to answer their calls and they also complained about the infrastructure in the area.

One of the building’s tenants, whose name has not been reported, told local media he called the police three times, only to get an answer on the third attempt.

Alfred Jadid, the owner of the building, said he got a call 20 minutes after the pair became trapped.

“When I arrived, the water had already reached the ceiling,” he said.

“I started going crazy, we tried opening the elevator doors, but to no avail."

"Police only arrived about an hour later, but how would that help? The fire brigade arrived there after an hour and a half. All these floods are caused by the drainage system's failure. We have floods around here all the time. All the time."

A scuba diver is pictured in a flooded lift shaft.
Residents have complained it took authorities too long to respond. Source: CEN/Australscope

According to the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, the incident is under investigation.

Mr Shoshani and Ms Harari were reportedly buried in adjacent graves this Sunday.

Eden Shoshani, Mr Shoshani’s mother, said the couple moved into an apartment a few months ago.

“You made a home that was sweet and pleasant – just like you,” she said.

“Now you’ve passed on together. I remember and treasure every moment with you.”

Australscope

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