Israeli couple arrested after man dies in sinkhole pool

JERUSALEM — Israeli police said Friday they placed a couple under house arrest a day after a man attending a party at their villa died after being sucked into a hole formed at the bottom of their swimming pool would have.

The man and woman, both in their 60s, are suspected of causing the death through negligence, police said. They were arrested Thursday night and a court ruled to release them on Friday under “restrictive conditions of house arrest” for five days.

The incident happened during a private party hosted by the couple at their home in the town of Karmi Yosef, 40 km southeast of the city of Tel Aviv.

Cellphone video of the scene shows floats and water being sucked to the bottom in the center of the pool as people seated by the pool scream in Hebrew. A man approaches the hole, slips and is nearly pulled in before backing away.

Police said the deceased 30-year-old was found after a search involving Israeli police, rescue workers and the army.

Israeli media, citing witnesses who said the party was attended by nearly 50 people, six of whom were in the pool, also reported that the homeowner built the pool without proper permits.