A worker at the Eurovision Song Contest died on Wednesday of injuries he sustained during an on-site accident Monday.
The man, identified as 66-year-old Poldi Schwartz of Pardess Hanna, was pronounced dead in Ichilov Hospital on Wednesday morning.
A spokesman for the hospital said Schwartz’s condition deteriorated overnight: “Unfortunately, after prolonged CPR efforts, doctors in the intensive care unit were forced to pronounce him dead.”
On Monday, Schwartz, a truck driver, was unloading lighting equipment in the parking lot of Expo Tel Aviv when a container fell on him. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency neurological surgery, police and hospital officials said.
“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,” the KAN public broadcaster said Wednesday. “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.”
Erez Schwartz, Poldi’s son, told Ynet Wednesday that he was still waiting for answers.
“A 500-kilogram lighting station crashed on top of him,” Schwartz said. “Half a ton on top of a human. But we still have no answers – how did it happen? Why? Who on the staff was supposed to receive him? Who ordered the truck?... With all due respect to the Eurovision, a man’s life was lost here.”
Yvette J. Deane contributed to this report.