School names library for boy after his tragic drowning

Residents of Al Wahla have complained of a lack of nearby healthcare facilities after two young Emiratis drowned this week.

Azziz Al Yamahi, left, and Zainab Al Yamahi walk next to the well where their brother Sultan Al Yamahi drowned while trying to rescue Ahmad Al Samahi, 7. Ruba Haza / The National

FUJAIRAH // A seven-year-old boy who drowned on Sunday will have his school’s library named after him.

The principal of Al Wahla School said the death of Ahmad Al Samahi, 7, had shaken the community.

“Ahmad was one of our precious students,” said Khaseba Abdullah. “We were shocked to hear that he passed away so we decided to rename our library Ahmad’s Library.”

Ahmad fell into a well that was swollen by rain in Fujairah. Sultan Al Yamahi, 19, jumped in to save him, despite being unable to swim, and also drowned.

The incident has sparked calls for more local emergency care.

“Having a nearby ambulance or even a nurse at school is very important, especially when you are surrounded by children all the time,” Ms Abdullah said.

“We submitted a letter to the Ministry of Health last year but they didn’t get back to us. If we face any accident we have to drive 30 minutes to the hospital because the ambulance takes a long time to reach us.

“I supervise 94 students and I have to provide all they need, especially heath care.”

The boys were taken to Kalba Hospital, 24 kilometres away.

Parents joined the call for a healthcare centre, and also for parks to keep youths away from dangerous spots like the well.

“I was there when the boys drowned and one of my kids was with them, but he managed to save himself,” said Umm Ali.

The mother of six lives near the well.

“There isn’t any safe place for our children to spend time and play after school – no park, nothing,” Umm Ali said. “Therefore they go to such dangerous places.

“We are in a desperate need for a healthcare centre. My husband broke his leg last month and didn’t know what to do and how to act.

“When we arrived to the hospital the doctor told us that if we had moved him in a wrong way he could have lost his leg.”

Umm Khalifa, a mother of seven, said that a lack of facilities for children was also a worry.

“Our children have nothing to do here,” she said. “Either they go to school or they play outside around the streets or under the hill, and that keeps us worried all the time, especially after the drowning incident.

“Besides the healthcare facility, which is the most important thing, we requested a park for kids.”

Local police said they could provide only basic emergency care.

“The national ambulance is the responsible entity in providing the needed medical help for such accidents, although we are trained to do CPR,” said Abdullah Al Kindi, manager of Al Wahla police station.

“But they are more professional and can deal with any kind of medical situation.

“This police station is not comprehensive like the one in the city, but we try to do all our best in helping residents in almost everything.”

“We got a phone call on the day of the accident, informing us that there were two boys drowning in the well. Our team moved immediately to the accident point where we found that they had already pulled them out of the water and started to move them to the hospital.

“We immediately called the hospital and accompanied the families until the arrival of the ambulance, and then to the hospital.”