Massive Search Underway for Israeli Missing in Canada
A desperate search continues in Whistler, Canada, for Elia Rachitsky, a 65-year-old Israeli missing for five days after going for a routine hike near the Cheakamus River. His family and volunteers coordinate with local authorities in a multi-faceted rescue operation involving ground, water, air, and intelligence resources.
Twitter
Elia Rachitsky, a 65-year-old Israeli citizen from Ofakim, has been missing since Tuesday in the Whistler region of Canada. His return flight to Israel had been postponed due to Operation "Am KeLavi," and he remained in Canada longer than planned. His family is urgently seeking any information regarding his whereabouts.
Rachitsky’s daughter, Maria, said: “If the flight hadn’t been canceled, my father would be home. Now, instead of welcoming him at Ben-Gurion Airport, our family is split, some of us are in Canada, others in Israel, searching the trail that had become his routine over the past month.”
According to the family, Rachitsky left around 5:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday for a hike on a familiar and marked trail near Whistler, heading toward MacLaurin’s Crossing, a suspension bridge over the Cheakamus River. He had walked this path many times during his stay.
That evening, his clothes and personal belongings were found near a rest stop along the riverbank. Though the water appears calm in that area, strong and dangerous undercurrents are known to run beneath the surface.
Rachitsky had reportedly entered the river many times before. Several locals later reported seeing a man matching his description being swept away by the current near Riverside Trailhead, unresponsive to calls.
His wife, who is in Canada, has had to postpone her Lufthansa flight to continue searching for him.
Dozens of volunteers—including local residents, Jewish community members, and Israelis—are assisting in the search. They are working in full coordination with the Whistler RCMP. The operation involves ground searches along the river, kayak patrols, drone and helicopter surveillance, and intelligence gathering. Elia’s son, Timofey, is managing the search effort on the ground.
The Israeli Embassy in Canada, the local Jewish Federation, and the emergency rescue organization *Haverim Mechalzim* (Friends Rescuers), operating under the Gvanim NGO, are all assisting the family with coordination, logistics, and emotional support. A missing person file has also been opened with the Israel Police.
The family is calling for additional support from anyone with access to drones, local intelligence, river navigation capabilities, or the ability to assist in on-foot searches.
**Emergency contact numbers:**
* Whistler RCMP: +1-604-932-3044 (Case Number: #WP2025-3432)
* Friends Rescuers Emergency Hotline (Israel): 050-6899026