Tel Aviv – A 67-year-old tourist from Russia drowned in the Dead Sea on Saturday, according to emergency services in Israel.
"The man lay unconscious on the beach without a pulse and was not breathing," said Shanee Gamliel, a paramedic who was called to the scene.
"A lifeguard tried to resuscitate him. After lengthy efforts to save his life, we had to pronounce him dead," she added.
The Dead Sea, which borders Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, is known worldwide for its health benefits due to the water's exceptionally high salt content.
While the high salinity gives bathers the feeling of floating, swimming there can be dangerous if some of the salt water is swallowed.