While declared missing, Yuri attempted to swim from Eilat to Jordan to escape the country
A 44-year-old Ashdod resident, who had been missing since the beginning of the month, was found attempting to cross the maritime border illegally. He tried to swim from Eilat to Aqaba, Jordan, before being detained and returned to Israel.
Yuri Komer, a 44-year-old resident of Ashdod who had been declared missing, was located under highly unusual circumstances. While police were searching for him—suspecting he might be in Eilat—he attempted to leave Israel by swimming across the Gulf of Eilat toward Aqaba, Jordan.
Komer was last seen on August 3 in Ashdod. After his whereabouts remained unknown for several days, police issued a public appeal for assistance, noting that he might be staying in Eilat.
It was later confirmed that Komer had indeed arrived in the southern city, where he attempted to flee the country in an unconventional manner. He entered the waters of the Gulf of Eilat and began swimming toward the Jordanian coast in an attempt to cross the maritime border.
The attempt was thwarted, and Komer was detained and returned to Israeli territory. The search, which lasted approximately two weeks, concluded upon his discovery.
