Nicole, a good friend of the late Beukner, said: “We don’t understand what exactly is happening, and are trying to digest the news. We still don’t know exactly what was there, but it’s just terrible, he was a good friend, and we’re still not in a place to talk about him in the past tense. Shmuel finished his medical studies a few months ago and on behalf of Ben Gurion University went to volunteer in Nepal and really liked what he did. Less than a month ago he celebrated his 30th birthday there and was supposed to return here for an internship in the coming days, we are sitting with the family members who are waiting for updates.”
The Israeli consul at the embassy in Kathmandu, Dana Fisher, and Tal Bleugrund from the department for Israelis abroad are in contact with the family, and are assisting in the arrangements for the transfer of the casket to Israel. At the same time, the park said that they are investigating the incident.
In the last six months, eight people were killed due to attacks by wild animals in the Chitwan National Park, including two people who were killed as a result of elephant attacks. Just a few days ago a 64-year-old woman was killed after being attacked by an elephant in the national park, and last month a 70-year-old woman was killed in similar circumstances.
Shmulik Bevikner grew up and was educated in Or Akiva, and later moved to California where he also began attending medical school. At the end of five years he moved to Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva in order to complete his degree in Israel and establish himself here.