Emirati boy rescued from drowning dies after 50 days in hospital

Zaid Al Shehhi, 5, died from complications relating to oxygen loss

Zaid Al Shehhi and his uncle pictured in a family photo. The five-year-old died 50 days after being pulled unconscious from the sea. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family

Zaid suffered brain damage after getting into difficulty in the water on April 4. He was rescued by a jet skier who took the boy ashore for medical help. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family

Doctors kept the child alive for 50 days but he suffered brain and organ damage related to loss of oxygen. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family

In a further tragedy, Zaid's friend Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, died in a similar drowning accident off Al Rams beach in RAK

Public beaches in Ras Al Khaimah have lifeguards are various points, but are not all patrolled. The National

The authorities urged parents to ensure their children have inflatable jackets or armbands, whether a lifeguard is present or not. Pawan Singh / The National

Even strong swimmers can be caught off guard by riptides and sudden current changes. Pawan Singh / The National

Related: Mother drowns while swimming with children in latest accident

A five-year-old boy who was saved from drowning off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah died after 50 days in an intensive care unit.

Zaid Al Shehhi was pulled from the water at Al Maahad beach on April 4.

He was taken to Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah before being transferred to the ICU at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah.

"He was swimming with his brothers when the strong tide pulled him away," the boy's uncle, Mohammed Al Shehhi, told The National.

We were told that he wasn't capable of breathing because of the large amount of water in his lungs

“His mother and the helper tried to rescue him but the strong tide pulled him farther into the sea.”

Zaid was rescued by a jet skier who sped out to help the family.

He suffered brain and organ damage relating to oxygen loss.

"We were told that he wasn't capable of breathing because of the large amount of water in his lungs," Mohammed said.

The boy's father, Saeed Al Shehhi, said he died on Tuesday..

The family said there was no lifeguard on duty on the stretch of public beach where Zaid went swimming.

"Lifeguards must be appointed on all public beaches to take swift action," Mohammed said.

Zaid was laid to rest in Khatt cemetery in Ras Al Khaimah in a service attended by family and friends.

In a further tragedy, a friend of Zaid's family drowned in an accident on Thursday.

Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, 14, was pulled from the water dead after getting into trouble while swimming off Al Rams beach in RAK.

Mohammed, Zaid's uncle, said the family were devastated.

Dr Ammar Al Hakim, head of the paediatric unit at Ajman's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, one of the largest hospitals in the Northern Emirates, urged parents and lifeguards to be alert following the recent drownings.

“Pulling a child out of the water doesn’t mean they were safely rescued, because a body deprived from oxygen can lead to severe repercussions," he said.

Children can even suffer 'secondary drowning', when water logs in the lungs.

It can prove fatal hours after the accident, if medical treatment is not sought.

"I'm saddened by this and its an eye opener for all parents to be more cautious," he said.