One of Israel’s first openly gay popstars dies in freak accident
By Joshua Haigh
A beloved gay Israeli popstar has died in a freak accident.
Amir Fryszer Guttman, 41, who rose to fame as a member of boy band High Five before going to achieve a successful solo career, died while trying to save his nine-year-old niece from drowning on Sunday.
Guttman was on a beach in Atlit with his family when his niece began to struggle in the water. He jumped in to help her, and lifted her into the air to keep her out of the waves.
When the pair reached the shore, the popstar had sadly stopped breathing. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
He leaves behind his husband and their adoptive son.
During his illustrious career, Guttman released three albums with High Five, before going solo and venturing into TV shows and directing musicals.
The star was also a notable gay rights activist, and had spent the past few months arguing that gay Israelis were capable of giving children just as much love and care as their straight counterparts.
He visited the beach with his family to help celebrate a new chapter in his life, after being misdiagnosed with cancer earlier in the year.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family.