A DAD-of-four mauled to death by sharks off the Israeli coast has been named as his devastated family revealed he used his GoPro stick gently push the predators away.
Barak Tzach, 40, from Petach Tikva, had stopped off at Olga Beach in Hadera on his way home from work to take a dip in the sea – but was brutally attacked while swimming alone.
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Slamming online rumours about the nature of his dive, his family said in a statement: “He went into the water to dive and photograph sharks, not to feed them or play with them.”
Police launched a massive search operation on Monday afternoon, deploying air and naval forces after receiving an emergency call at 3.02pm.
By Tuesday evening, partial remains were recovered from the sea.
Forensic tests at the Abu Kabir Institute later confirmed the remains belonged to Tzach, who had entered the water armed only with “a mask, snorkel, fins and a GoPro camera – without any fish or bait.”
His final moments were caught on horrifying footage showing him thrashing in the water before it turned red.
One eyewitness told local outlet Channel 12 News: “I warned him not to go into the sea, and then I received the bitter news.”
The witness said Barak screamed: “I’m bitten, I’m bitten,” as he waved his hands in the air before disappearing beneath the surface.
A relative told Israel National News: “In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident, I was told that he swam alongside the shark and later moved a little further out.
“He photographed the sharks from a distance, but did not touch them or feed them.
“When they started getting too close to him, he used the stick of the GoPro camera to gently push them away.”
Barak’s family has now pleaded with the public to stop spreading false claims about his death and to honour his memory as a nature-lover.
“The family requests that the public refrain from spreading false or unsubstantiated information, and honour the memory of a loved one who loved the sea and nature,” their statement added.
Police and emergency services vowed to continue searching for more remains.
“We express our sincere condolences to the family who was informed of the results. We will accompany them throughout the complex process,” officers said.
Deputy Fire Chief Doron Almashali added: “After a day and a half of intensive effort, we have found what appears to be part of the missing person.
“Naturally, these findings must undergo thorough examinations…
“We conducted our search pattern based on careful analysis of underwater currents, and it was precisely in that area where the remains were discovered.”
While shark attacks in the Mediterranean are extremely rare – with just 11 fatal attacks recorded since 1900 – the waters off Hadera have recently become a hotspot for thrill-seekers wanting to get up close to the marine predators.
Videos shared online show beach-goers, including children, standing in shallow waters with sharks circling their legs.
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According to the Israeli Shark Association, some visitors have even been seen grabbing sharks by the tail or beating them with oars.
The association has branded such reckless encounters “unreasonable behaviour.”
Despite local authorities urging people to stay out of the water, the beach remains a magnet for shark enthusiasts.
The Hadera Municipality Coastal Department confirmed: “We urge the public traveling in the area to avoid entering the water and contact with the sharks.”
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