Dubai resident dies after hiking trip in Sharjah mountains

Tributes have been paid to Mohamad Hajjar

Mohamad Hajjar was found dead on Khor Fakkan Mountain on Sunday by a search and rescue team.

Tributes have been paid to a Dubai resident with a "gentle soul" who died on a hiking trip in Sharjah.

The body of Mohamad Hajjar, 35, was found by a search and rescue team on a mountain in Khor Fakkan on Sunday.

Hajjar had embarked on the trek with two friends the previous day when they became lost.

A report was filed to Sharjah Police who sent teams from Civil Defence, the Eastern Region Coastguard and helicopters from the National Search and Rescue Centre.

The team found the two women, from Belarus and Latvia, both 33, in a mountainous area in Khor Fakkan.

Police said they were given a medical check-up and found to be in “good health”.

Hajjar, from Lebanon, was later found dead in a mountainous area.

“His body was transferred to the forensic department, according to the directives of the Eastern Region Prosecution, to determine the cause of death,” police said.

Col Ali Al Hamoudi, director of the Eastern Region Police Department, said the three were hiking in a remote area.

Col Al Hamoudi called on the public to stay home except for in case of necessity to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

He said that under normal circumstances, hikers should stick to approved trails and take precautions to ensure they could contact emergency services if needed.

Col Al Hamoudi said hikers should always carry first-aid kits.

On Sunday, the 530 Run club, a social club of which Hajjar was a member, expressed their condolences on Instagram.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of our brother and runner Mohamad Hajjar's loss during a hiking trail, and we express our sincere sympathy to his family and loved ones,” the club said.

“Mohamad Hajjar was a brother to all of us and remembering his wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in our hearts.

“May his soul rest and peace and we will always keep him in our prayers.”

Fellow runners offered their sympathies on the social media page.

“It was a great pleasure to have spoken to him and actually run with him in the sprints, and he did not quit. May Allah be with you,” one poster said.

“Such tragic news. What a great guy he was,” another posted.