Family members of deceased national service recruit found out about his death via social media

Family members of teenage National Service recruit Ali Khalil Abdullah Al Hosani said they found out about his death because of social media.

Ali Khalil Abdullah Al Hosani, 17, died of a heart attack the day after he started his military training. Courtesy Zahra Al Hosani

ABU DHABI // The sister of a teenage National Service recruit who collapsed and died on Sunday says she found out about her brother's death on social media.
Ali Khalil Abdullah Al Hosani, 17, died of a heart attack the day after he started his military training.
"I didn't know about his death until I saw his picture on Instagram with a death announcement underneath," said Zahra Al Hosani, 22.
"The officers got in touch with my brothers at around 10pm and announced it to them. They were in Al Ain at the time."
The brothers wanted to tell Zahra and her mother the news personally and arrived in Abu Dhabi about 4am.
"I found out before they arrived, at around 2am, after a friend tagged me on an Instagram post announcing Ali's death. I called my brothers and they said it was true. Ali was dead."
Her mother, Mariam Al Hosani, "took the news in shock", Zahra said.
On Tuesday, Mrs Al Hosani said: "I know my son is in a better place. He died as a hero, serving his country."
Ali was one of five brothers, three of whom have completed National Service. The fourth, Mansoor, 24, still intends to join up at the end of the year.
"Ali was the only one I wasn't worried about when it came to joining the military service," Mrs Al Hosani said. "He was going to turn 18 on November 28."
Zahra said: "Ali was an athletic man and didn't suffer from any health conditions. He was in good physical shape."
She said his fellow recruits told her at Ali's funeral on Monday that they were laughing and joking on the way to maghrib prayers and Ali told them, in jest, "I will save you all if needed".
Then he collapsed.
"He had plans to join the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi and major in business studies after finishing his military service," Zahra said.
Mansoor said he heard the news about his brother's death from a friend who had also seen a post on Instagram.
"I had just woken up at around 10pm and was heading to the coffee shop when one of my friends called me on my phone asking if I had a brother called Ali," said Mansoor.
"I told him, 'Yes, I do,' and then he asked me when did he join, and I told him just yesterday. He told me that he saw a post on Instagram and that he was sorry because my brother just passed away."
Mansoor couldn't believe what his friend had told him and called his eldest brother right away.
"I asked my brother if he heard the news and he said he did," he said. "I was supposed to join the service before Ali, but because I was in my graduation year, I couldn't. I will join this December without any hesitation.
"I remember he used to run on the treadmill and sweat like crazy for preparation to join the service."
Zahra said Saturday was the last time the family saw her brother.
"He said goodbye to us before joining the service camp. He was happy and excited and he had been training especially for this day," she said.
On Tuesday the chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun, visited the family at their Abu Dhabi residence to offer them his condolences.
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