An American university student visiting Israel for the weekend went missing on Saturday while swimming with friends in the Mediterranean Sea. Her body was found on Monday.
A statement from the University of Knetucky said 19-year-old TeNiya Elnora Jones of Fort Myers, Florida, was swimming with two other Kentucky students when they were "caught up in a strong current and were pulled out to sea."
The other students were able to make it back to shore.
A spokesman for the Israel Police confirmed that a person was reported missing in the sea on Saturday and that Jones' body was found Monday.
Jones was part of a group of seven students, including five from the University of Kentucky, studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan, since June. The university said she and three other students traveled to Tel Aviv for the weekend.
The tragedy comes just months after Jones, who recently earned a spot in her school's pre-med program, lost her 22-year-old brother in a double homicide in her hometown, the New York Post reported
According to media reports in Israel, Jones and her friends were taking a late-night swim off a beach in Bat Yam, which neighbors Tel Aviv, just after midnight Saturday.
The university is sending a representative to Tel Aviv and is making travel arrangements for Jones' mother and grandfather.
Israeli authorities conducted a "major search and rescue effort" that was unsuccessful in locating the woman, according to the university.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted," said University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. "We are in continual contact with TeNiya's family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed."
The school said it was in contact with the Council on International Exchange, which runs the program Jones was a part of, as well as officials at the U.S. Embassy in Israel.
The summer abroad program was scheduled to end this week.
