Call for lifeguards after man drowns

Umm Al Quwain’s Civil Defence department says it has plans to have lifeguards stationed on the emirate’s beaches. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

UMM AL QUWAIN // Residents have called for lifeguards to be stationed along Umm Al Quwain’s beaches after a man was swept out to sea and drowned.

The 28-year-old Nepali died on Friday after going to the emirate’s corniche to swim with friends.

“His friends know how to swim and they swam into the deep. The victim decided to follow them but he was caught out by the waves and drowned,” said Major Obaid Ali Fadel, the director of UAQ’s police station.

The emirate’s beaches are popular with families, but the lack of lifeguard patrols and other safety facilities are a concern to many people.

“The presence of lifeguards on the beaches while people swim is the most important thing because even experienced people may drown and could not help themselves,” said Yusuf Mohamed, a 31-year-old Palestinian architect.

He said he had yet to visit beaches in UAQ, as he preferred those in Dubai.

Mohammed Bassam, a 23-year-old Jordanian, said entering the water without the presence of lifeguards was dangerous.

“I live in UAQ but I never go to its beaches and swim. I only go to Al Mamzar beach in Dubai,” he said.

Lt Col Hassan Ali, the director of Civil Defence in UAQ, said plans had been made to have lifeguards stationed on the emirate’s beaches, but were awaiting approval.

“We did a study for developing UAQ’s beaches in terms of providing rescue and diving equipment, observation towers, lifeboats, and jet skis,” he said.

“This study was presented to specialised committees and we are still waiting for their approval and response to begin working on the implementation of the project.”

The coastguard, police, the UAQ municipality, the public works and service department, and civil defense took part in the study.

Lt Col Ali said the Civil Defence provided aid by deploying lifeboats to rescue people who were drowning, and gave them first aid before they were taken to hospital.

He said there had been two drowning cases this year, down from three last year.

He also urged residents to be cautious when they swim. Parents were asked to take care of their children and not to leave them unattended, while swimmers who lack confidence should not enter the water alone.

The public works and service department said it had been to install signs along beaches to warn residents about the dangers.

Obaid Sultan Towarish, the acting general director of UAQ municipality, said the municipality had been advising the public by posting information on its website and maintaining the cleanliness of the beaches.

Maj Ali Fadel said the police could only respond to drowning incidents, not prevent them.

“The police doesn’t have a role in drowning accidents, the concerned authorities have the responsibility for providing the rescue equipment for victims,” he said.

“I swim everywhere,” said Khaled Ahmed, a 35-year-old call centre agent at Emirates NBD from Sudan.

“Our fate is in God’s hand, and no one dies before he or she is meant to.”