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PFC Gregai killed while fixing an APC

Soldier dies in APC accident in Golan Heights

While working on the tracks of a 'Namer' style APC, PFC Viachislov Gregai was killed after receiving a serious blow to his upper body by a piece of steel; he was flown to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa where he was pronounced dead.

Cpl. Viachislov Gregai, 20, of Rishon LeZion, was killed on Monday while working on an armored "Namar"-type personnel carrier (APC) on the El Furan base in the Golan Heights.

 

 

The tragedy occurred during regularly scheduled drills with the Golani 51st brigade. His family has been notified.

 

 

Viachislov Gregai
Viachislov Gregai
 

 

While the incident is still under investigation, initial findings reveal that Gregai was evacuated to hospital after receiving a serious blow to his upper body from a piece of steel. The initial findings also reveal that Gregai was working on the APCs tracks when the incident occurred.

 

 

He was given first aid by his colleagues first, and by soldiers from the IDF medical corps soon after, before being evacuated by helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where he was declared dead.

 

The APC track Viachislov was working on
The APC track Viachislov was working on

 

GOC Northern Commander Major General Aviv Kochavi has created an investigative committee, which will be headed by Carmeli Brigade Commander Col. Pini Yosef, to look further into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

 

The drill was cancelled due to the accident.

 

A 'Namer' APC (Photo: Aviyahu Shapira)
A 'Namer' APC (Photo: Aviyahu Shapira)

 

The "Namer" APC was incorporated into the IDF over the last several years, and is one of the most advanced APCs on the market, not least because it is kitted with the most reinforced slabs and layers of armor out there.

 

After the APC tragedy during Operation Protective Edge, the Ministry of Defense decided to acquire more of the APCs, and equip them with the "Trophy" anti-missile defense system, joining the IDF's Merkava 4, the only tank in Israel to be fitted with the advance technology.

 

Always had a smile on his face

Doron Turgeman taught Gregai Krav Maga for several years before the latter joined the IDF. He said in an exclusive interview to Ynet that "the day that he learned he was going to be in Golani, he texted me 'I got Golani. I got into the 51st battalion.' It was really important to him."

 

Turgeman added that he doesn't know any more details about the incident.

 

"I only know what I read in the news. I tried to call his family and friends, but no one really knows what happened. It's a tragic accident, and it's such a shame that it happened," he continued.

 

"(Viachislav) was a really good, quality guy. He would always come excited to Krav Maga. Throughout the six years that I knew him, I always remembered him smiling. He was always respectful of everyone. It was always important for him to learn and practice, and to be the best that he can be in everything that he did."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.17.17, 08:41
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