Sheik Saif praises RAK hero who drowned saving children

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, pays his respects to family of Emirati who drowned trying to save children

RAS AL KHAIMAH // The office of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, paid his respects on Friday to the family of an Emirati man who died this week trying to save a group of children swimmers.

Ahmad Salem, 20, was with two friends when he responded to cries for help after a group of children, who were at the beach with their father, were overcome by strong waves.

Two of the children were rescued by the three men, although Mr Salem drowned in the effort, RAK Police said.

The rest of the children, aside from one boy, were picked up safely by the coastguard. The incident occurred on a beach behind Al Masoudi School on Wednesday evening.

The body of the boy, R S J, 13, was recovered on Thursday morning.

Sheikh Saif praised Mr Salem for putting others before himself, a move that characterises the Emirati people.

“We see the deceased as a martyr for humanity,” Sheikh Saif was quoted as saying. “We can only pray to Allah Almighty to grant the bereaved family patience and solace and to rest the deceased in eternal peace.

“We are confident that Ahmad’s life was not lost in vain, but reflects a civilised image of the high values embraced by Emiratis and transmitted from generation to generation.”

Mr Salem’s brothers, Salem and Hassan Mohammed, thanked Sheikh Saif for his support.