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| Beachgoers enjoying Lake Kinneret |
A man died after being bitten by a snake while enjoying himself at Lake Kinneret in Tiberias, according to hospital officials in Israel.
Emergency workers said that Michael Itzkovich, 57, of Lapid, Israel, died on Friday after being bitten by a snake on the shore of the Kinneret. He had gone to the beach with his wife and daughter, 17, during a weekend of rest and relaxation.
The family set up a campsite on the beach, which is reserved for the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries employees, and is officially off-limits to ordinary citizens.
Itzkovitch was bitten about 9:00 pm Friday, and lost consciousness. His death was pronounced after prolonged efforts to revive him.
Magen David Adom officials said he was bitten by a poisonous viper, which is the only poisonous type that makes its habitat in the area. Magen David Adom officials also said that it has responded to numerous cases of people being bitten by snakes and scorpions in recent weeks, as the summer vacation season began, and called on Israelis to take special precautions to avoid snake bites.