Four incidents of drowning in the past five months in Dubai

Somaya Saad, Staff Reporter

Colonel Dr. Hassan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Ports Police Centre in Dubai Police, said four drowning accidents took place during the past five months, resulting in 13 minor injuries, 3 moderate and 2 serious injuries.

The Burj Al Arab beaches topped the number of marine accidents, with 34 accidents.

The Marine Rescue Department of the General Department of Transport and Rescue of Dubai Police carried out 163 various missions during the five months, during which drones were used to secure beaches, and verify the application of public safety requirements.

Al Suwaidi indicated that the Department launches inspection patrols to monitor the adherence to precautionary measures related to the coronavirus. He added that violations of non-compliance with distancing, and not wearing the face masks on beaches, have already been observed.

A recent report said the coast guard teams and police forces at the GHQ of Fujairah Police rescued an Emirati young man from drowning in the sea of Dibba Al Fujairah city on Sunday evening, while the search operations for another are ongoing in the sea.

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Bin Ghanem Al Ka’abi, Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police, said that the operations room received a report at 5pm on Sunday, stating that two young men had drowned in the Dibba Al Fujairah port area.

He explained that the two UAE nationals, who are 18 and 16, were swept away while swimming in the sea off the port area in Dibba Al Fujairah.

The coast guard immediately responded to the alert, and were able to rescue one of them.

He was immediately transferred to Dibba Al Fujairah Hospital for treatment, and his condition has been reported to be stable.

Rescue teams were still continuing search operations for the other national.

Al Kaabi appealed to the public to be careful when going into the sea to swim, to wear life jackets and to stay away from places not designated for swimming.