Sheikh Hamdan visits 'hero' firefighters in hospital after Dubai blaze

The pair were injured in a warehouse fire that claimed the life of a colleague

Sheikh Hamdan visited two firefighters in hopsital who were injured in a blaze in Dubai Investments Park on Tuesday. Courtesy: Twitter 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed visited two injured "hero" firefighters in hospital who had battled a warehouse blaze in which a colleague was killed.

The Crown Prince of Dubai paid tribute to the emergency workers for their "determination and sacrifice" and said they were a "great source of pride" to the nation.

The men were hurt as fire swept through two warehouses at  Dubai Investments Park on Tuesday.

Fellow firefighter Sgt Adel Nasser Saleh was killed after a section of the burning warehouse collapsed on top of him as crews from three fire stations sought to contain the blaze.

“Today, I visited the Dubai Civil Defence heroes who were injured while extinguishing a warehouse fire,” he wrote on Twitter, sharing two pictures of himself at their bedside.

“We are highly grateful for the determination and sacrifice of these brave firefighters, who are a great source of pride for us all.”

Authorities said the building that caught fire was being used to store flammable materials. The flames engulfed both buildings.

Saleh, who was 44, had served civil defence for 25 years.

Sharing a picture of the Emirati on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Sheikh Hamdan said Sgt Saleh was "martyred during his call to duty".

"Precious and valuable civil defence personnel are working to protect lives and the security and safety of our state," he said.

"Dubai lost Sgt Adel Nasser Saleh, who was martyred during his call to duty. We ask God to have mercy and to grant his family patience and solace."

He is survived by four sons and a daughter.

Speaking on Dubai TV, his eldest, Saif, 14, said he was proud of his father.

"Before he would leave for work he would often hold my face and say 'If I were to die in an accident, I would have died helping people',” Saif said.

Of Yemeni origin, but born and raised in the UAE, Saleh had 10 brothers and sisters, including a twin.