Emirati woman saved from flooded tunnel thanks police in radio call

Reem Al Falasi was stuck in her car with water flooding in when officers arrived

Municipal workers clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Tunnels across the country quickly filled with water during the weekend deluge, leaving many cars stranded. Courtesy: Sharjah MunicipalityShow less

An Emirati motorist has thanked Dubai Police for saving her life after her vehicle was swamped by water in a flooded tunnel.

Reem Al Falasi was driving to the Intercontinental Hotel in Festival City on Saturday night when she entered an underpass near the mall.

“I thought that the water level in the tunnel would be the same as on the streets but the car started to drown,” Ms Al Falasi said in a call to radio show Al Khat Al Mubashar (The Direct Line), on Noor Dubai radio.

“I didn’t realise who deep it can be until I started drowning in the car and I thought I was going to die."

Ms Al Falasi called the police operation room who sent officers to the scene.

“A rescue team quickly came to pull me out of the car. I honestly see such acts in the movies and didn’t expect it to be so real,” she said.

Ms Al Falasi was pulled out of a window and was placed on the rooftop of the car until officers managed to get her out of the tunnel safely.

She thanked officers for their fast response and dedication. A police spokesman invited her to visit the operations room so that she can see how they deal with emergency calls from the second they come in.

On Saturday, Dubai police said it dealt with 1,880 accidents had been recorded since Thursday, of which 55 were serious.

Among these was an Asian woman who was knocked down by a car in Jumeirah Lakes Towers and a motorcyclist in Jumeirah Village Circle who was hit by a vehicle.

Both were seriously hurt and taken to hospital.

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