Dubai drowning : Dad lets daughter die; rather than be touched by ‘strange’ rescuer

DUBAI – A man was arrested and prosecuted after he allegedly kept two rescuers from saving his daughter drowning at a beach, a senior Dubai official said.

It is claimed the unnamed man said he would rather his daughter die than be touched by a strange man Lt. Col Ahmed Burqibah, Deputy Director of Dubai Police’s Search and Rescue Department was quoted as saying.

“This is one of the incidents which I cannot forget,” Burqibah said. “It shocked me and many others who were involved in the case. The Asian father took his wife and kids to the beach for picnic and fun.

“The kids were swimming in the beach when suddenly, the 20-year-old girl started drowning and screaming for help. Two rescue men were at the beach, and they rushed to help the girl. However, there was one obstacle which prevented them from reaching the girl and helping her.

“This obstacle was the belief of this Asian man who considered that if these men touched his daughter, then this would dishonor her. It cost him the life of his daughter.”

He said the father was a “tall and strong man,” who prevented a rescue from taking place, by pulling his daughter’s potential rescuers and getting violent with them.

He added: “He told them that he prefers his daughter being dead than being touched by a strange man.” Burqibah said the delay cost the young woman her life.

Dubai police later arrested the father for having blocked rescue teams from doing their job and saving his daughter’s life.

Agencies/Canadajournal