Family of young Israeli killed in Peru accident await his repatriation
Max Sela. 24, died in a zip-lining accident in Maccu Picchu; 'Max had a huge heart,' says his brother.
The death of Israeli hiker Max Sela, killed Wednesday in Peru, has left his family reeling, and counting the days until his body is returned to them.
"We are shocked and just trying to somehow get through the days until his coffin arrives in Israel," Max's older brother, Shahaf, said Thursday.
The 24-year-old, who was killed in a zip-lining accident in Machu Picchu, had been due to return to Israel in June, to prepare for school. His body is expected to arrive back in Israel by Sunday.
Sela left his family home in Shoham three months ago to travel in South America, following his discharge from the IDF as an officer in the engineering corps. He had also travelled to Brazil and Argentina when the accident occurred.
"Max had a huge heart and was always thinking how to give of himself to others - his friends, his soldiers and his family," said his other older brother, Dotan.
Eighteen months ago, Max got a new nephew, and during his would talk to him via voice messages on Whatsapp. "He loved hearing him say his name for the first time," said Dotan.
Local police are now investigating the circumstances of Max's accident. His friends are also trying to return to Israel as soon as possible.
Max's death came on the same day as that of a 12-year-old Israeli girl, who was killed in a fire on a ferry in Thailand, during a family trip to celebrate her bat mitzvah. Her body was recovered Thursday.
