Nova Festival Survivor Dies by Suicide, Two Years After Hamas Attack
The trauma of the October 7th Hamas attack on the Nova music festival continues to claim lives, with Roei Shalev, 29, found dead near Netanya, Israel, after a suspected suicide. This tragic event marks the latest devastating chapter for a young man already profoundly impacted by loss and unimaginable horror.
Shalev’s death comes just two years after his girlfriend, Mapal Adam, 27, was killed during the festival massacre. He had been with Adam and their freind,Hilly Solomon,26,when the attack began,shattering a day of music and celebration into a desperate fight for survival.
Here’s a breakdown of the harrowing events and the aftermath:
* The Attack: Hamas gunmen descended upon the Nova festival, unleashing a wave of violence that left hundreds dead and many more injured.
* A Desperate Hiding Place: Shalev, adam, and solomon attempted to escape the chaos, hiding under a vehicle as gunfire erupted around them.
* Unimaginable loss: Tragically, all three were discovered and shot by the attackers, resulting in the deaths of Adam and Solomon. shalev endured seven agonizing hours with two gunshot wounds, lying beside his loved ones until Israeli forces arrived.
* Further Grief: The weight of the trauma proved too much for Shalev’s mother, who took her own life just a week after the attack.
shalev openly shared his struggle with post-traumatic stress in the months following the attack. He described debilitating flashbacks, relentless anxiety, and an inability to sleep. He channeled his pain into advocacy, raising funds for fellow festival survivors and their families.
“That day was the darkest I’ve ever known,” he wrote on a fundraising page. “in the months that followed, I struggled to cope.”
Recent social media posts revealed Shalev’s deepening despair. shortly before his death, he posted a message on Instagram expressing unbearable pain and a sense of hopelessness. “I’ve never felt such deep and burning pain and suffering in my life,” he wrote. “It’s eating me up inside.”
Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, which occurred in a burning car near Poleg Beach.
this tragedy underscores the long-lasting and devastating impact of trauma, notably in the wake of large-scale violence. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for complete mental health support for survivors of conflict and their families.
If you are struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You are not alone.
Here are some resources available:
* Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
* Mind (UK): Call 0300 102 1234
* NHS (UK): Call 111
Note: This article aims to provide a sensitive and informative account of a tragic event. It prioritizes factual reporting and offers resources for those in need of support. It avoids sensationalism and focuses on the human cost of trauma.
