Abu Dhabi: A UAE paraglider, Omar Saif Mubarak Al Riyami, died on Thursday when a motorised paraglider he was flying malfunctioned and crashed.
The incident took place during extended 43rd National Day celebrations in Al Ruwais, 400km south of Abu Dhabi city.
Sources told Gulf News on Friday that Al Riyami lost control of the turquoise-coloured paraglider while at high altitude leading to the accident. The sources suggested the engine may have jammed, causing a loss of power.
A fellow paraglider mentioned that this mode of paragliding is new to the UAE.
Retired Major General Saif Mubarak Al Riyami, father of the deceased, told Gulf News that his family received the sad news on Thursday around 5pm that Omar, who had always loved a life of adventure, had been involved in a flying accident.
The deceased was one of seven boys and seven sisters.Hundreds of Al Ain residents including the Al Riyami family and relatives as well as Omar’s friends gathered on Friday afternoon at Al Ma’urdh mosque for the funeral prayers after Asr. He was laid to rest in Al Mutawa cemetery.
‘Nice and gentle man’
“My son was a polite man and everyone loved him,” Omar’s father said shortly after the funeral service in Al Ain, the hometown of the family. “He always used to perform the five prayers on time. He was a nice and gentle man. He had a joyful spirit.”
Al Riyami, 24, leaves behind two children. He was employed with a natural gas company in Abu Dhabi and had been residing in Al Ain.
Omar loved flying and had been practising motorised paragliding as a hobby for five years, said his father recalling how he had asked his son to reconsider his love for paragliding out of concern for his safety given the dangers of the sport.
“I warned my son to stop practising this dangerous hobby, but he did not take my words seriously until the tragedy happened. I advise all youth who have the same hobby to leave it forever to protect their lives. “We lost him but his memory will stay with us,” he said.
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) issued a statement on Friday noting the loss to the alumni community. “It is with profound sorrow that we convey the sad news of the demise of alumnus Omar Saif Al Reyami, BA Mass Communication (2006),” the university said in a statement.
“On behalf of the AUS community, we extend our sincere condolences to Omar’s family members and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in these difficult moments. May his soul rest in peace and Allah give strength to his family and friends to bear this loss.”
