Erez Halfon, an Israeli national who died in Greece last week, has been memorialized as a hero by his coworkers and friends.
Haflon, 32, drowned at Agia Saranda Beach after he was swept away in a riptide. He was found unconscious on a pile of rocks; lifeguards and a nearby doctor worked for an hour to save his life. However, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Halfon worked at the US embassy as a security guard. In a Thursday post on Facebook, the US Embassy said that he was a respected member of its ranks.
“Erez was one of our veteran security guards. He joined the US Embassy Local Guard Force in 2017 and quickly became one of its most trusted and respected members,” the post read.
“Erez was quiet and humble, and his dedication made him a role model for everyone in the LGF section.”
'He was my hero'
The post noted that after serving 7 months in Gaza with his reserve unit, he received a certificate of appreciation. Unfortunately, he was never able to receive it.
Haflon also allegedly saved the life of General Staff Reconnaissance Unit Commander Lt.-Col. Yonatan Rom, Walla reported.
In a memorial Facebook post, Rom called him a ”superhero.”
“A quiet and modest guy, small in stature, almost trying to hide within the world around him, but immense in every other sense. Erez was a true Egoz fighter, a team player, and a loyal friend. One of those who stand out with their silence, less talk, more action.”
“That same Erez was the medic who, 11 years ago in Gaza, during Operation Protective Edge, chose to stop my torn artery using a pressure point that doesn’t even exist in medical literature, for nearly an hour, with endless resourcefulness, under fire, under pressure, in horrific conditions. The best doctors couldn’t believe I survived. Erez saved my life," he wrote, as reported by Walla.
Rom said that he wished he could’ve saved his hero in return.
“Last Thursday, Erez drowned off the coast of Greece. His special forces training couldn’t help him this time. In a chilling twist, I was also in Greece that weekend and couldn’t save him.
“Erez was a hero before our paths crossed, and he remained a hero afterward. But on that bloody night, he was my hero. A superhero, thanks to whom I am alive.”