A 47-year-old Israeli collapsed and died in Bulgaria during a basketball tournament for jobs

Oren Barzilai participated in a tournament that included about 400 Israelis from various companies, who arrived in Bulgaria on Tuesday, and were scheduled to return on Monday.

A notice was given to his family, and the Foreign Ministry is assisting in transferring his body for burial in Israel.

Chairman of the workers' committee who was by his side: "Only yesterday we went out and spent time, everyone here is in shock"

Yoav Itiel

17/06/2022

Friday, 17 June 2022, 16:06 Updated: 17:39

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Oren Barzilai (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers, Clal Insurance and Finance employees)

Oren Barzilai, a 47-year-old Israeli resident of Tel Aviv, collapsed and died this morning (Friday) during a basketball game in Bulgaria.

The game in which he participated took place as part of a basketball tournament for workplaces in which about 400 Israelis from various Israeli companies participated, including Barzilai's girlfriend, Clal Insurance and Finance.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, and he apparently had no background illnesses.

The Foreign Ministry is aware of the case and the local consul is helping to release the body and fly it for burial in Israel.

His family members were notified of the disaster, including his wife who is also an employee of the company, and she and Barzilai have three children.

Following the incident, the Israelis in the tournament stopped participating in the games as a sign of solidarity, and many of them will return to Israel early.

The date of Barzilai's funeral has not yet been set.

The basketball team in which Barzilai played, this week (Photo: Courtesy of those photographed, Clal Insurance and Finance employees)

The group of Israelis, which was attended by 48 employees from Barzilai's company, left for Varna on Tuesday and was scheduled to return this coming Monday.

The tournament included football and basketball events, and participants undergo annual fitness tests.

Roni Raz, chairman of the Clal Insurance and Finance workers' committee, who is also at the place, told Walla !: "I was a meter away from him, you could say he was really dead in my hands.

He was on the field exactly a minute before that.

They played three on three and suddenly he fell and collapsed for us.

There was someone from the group of Soroka hospital staff there and he tried to revive him and these efforts lasted twenty minutes also on the way to the hospital but upon arrival at the hospital they were already forced to determine his death.

Yesterday we went out, we spent time, we all celebrated together.

Everyone here is in shock. "

More on Walla!

The Israeli who was arrested in Turkey returned to Israel: "I had a difficult time"

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• Israelis abroad