Although we are within the exciting Eurovision Week, sad things may still happen, even in the year’s host country… To our regret, we were informed today of the loss of one of the workers participating in the preparations for our beloved contest, at the hosting venue of Expo Tel Aviv.

According to the Times of Israel, Fuldi Schwarzt, truck driver, 66, was seriously injured last Monday, when a lighting rig fell on him, while he was unloading equipment from a truck in a parking lot adjacent to the fairgrounds.

The accident caused head injuries, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a spinal injury, as claimed by the victim’s family. The decedent was immediately transferred to Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital for an emergency brain surgery. However, he didn’t manage to stay alive and succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, according to the medical communiqué.

The sudden and very sad event caused sorrow to the organizers of the competition, who expressed their condolences to his family:

We are greatly saddened by the death of the driver who was injured this week while unloading a truck with technical equipment in the parking lot of the Eurovision venue in Tel Aviv. Our thoughts and condolences go to his family.

Our priority is always for the safety and security of everyone involved with the Eurovision Song Contest and, in line with protocol, we are cooperating with the authorities.

Here at ESCToday, we would like to express our deep sorrow for the loss of the Israeli worker and convey our most sincere condolences to his family and friends…