The body of an Israeli backpacker was found on Monday after having been carried away by currents on Sunday while rafting in a Slovenian river. The country’s rescue forces carried out the search, according to local media sources.
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A boat carrying four Israelis hit a rock in a Slovenia river on Sunday afternoon. Three managed to escape while one traveler, Avi Cohen, was swept upstream. Large police and military forces searched for Cohen for seven hours.
A relative of one of the travelers said that the four had been in Slovenia on a work-sponsored trip.
Cohen's brother said, "From what I understand, the boat he was on overturned. Three of his friends managed to escape, but my brother could not. The search was conducted with helicopters, and this morning we were informed that his body had been found.
"I spoke to Avi on the day he left for the (rafting) trip; he was very excited. He worked at Egged (bus company) for 18 years and was a very loving person. My parents are in a severe mental state, because he would always help them," he said.
Senior Egged employee Zohar Aryeh said the boat apparently hit a rock, adding that Cohen's wetsuit and helmet were found a few hours after the accident. "He helped two people get out of the water and tried to help a third, but within seconds he was swept away," said the employee.
Lital Gana and Hassan Shaalan contributed to this report
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