UAE | General
Major who drowned while saving his children honoured
The Dubai Police Academy honoured the family of a major who worked for UAE Armed Forces and was studying at the Dubai Police Academy, but lost his life trying to save his two young sons from drowning in Ras Al Khaimah in March this year.
- By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:15 November 19, 2008
- Shaikh Hamdan kisses one of the sons of Major Nasser Ahmad Al Tunaiji, a 34-year-old Emirati, who died while trying to save his sons. Al Tunaiji was picnicking with his children on a beach in Al Rams area in Ras Al Khaimah when the accident happened.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Dubai: The Dubai Police Academy honoured the family of a major who worked for UAE Armed Forces and was studying at the Dubai Police Academy, but lost his life trying to save his two young sons from drowning in Ras Al Khaimah in March this year.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, embraced the two boys and gave them a special honour.
Major Nasser Ahmad Al Tunaiji, a 34-year-old Emirati, was at his fourth year at the academy when the tragedy struck.
Major Al Tunaiji was picnicking with his children on a beach in Al Rams area in Ras Al Khaimah. As the day progressed, Al Tunaiji started to read and his sons went for a swim and before he could realise it, the boys were caught by the waves and pushed deep into the sea.
The father, who was on the shore with his five-year-old daughter Aisha, was shocked to find his sons fighting the big waves and rushed to save their lives.
Two passers-by rushed to save Al Tunaiji, but he asked them to take his sons to safety and when the passers-by came back to rescue him, he had gone missing under water due to fatigue. His body was later recovered.
Honoured
At the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Al Tunaiji's younger brother came with the two boys, one of whom could not stop his tears and started crying as he heard his father's name being called out for the honour.
Al Tunaiji was given a honorary licence in law by the academy. Earlier, a new batch of police officers graduated from Dubai Police Academy yesterday and joined the force in a ceremony that was held under the theme of national identity.
Shaikh Hamdan honoured the 16th batch of candidate officers and the 17th batch of students of organised evening studies.
The batch included 69 graduates, 34 of them were Emiratis, while 10 were from Yemen, nine from Palestine, eight from Kuwait, four from Oman, and one each from Jordan, Qatar and Bosnia.
Batch 17 also consisted of 191 officers of organised evening studies. Shaikh Hamdan honoured officers who obtained master's degrees and PhD. The officers belong to different departments in the Army Forces, Interior Ministry and Dubai Police.
The ceremony began with Shaikh Hamdan inspecting the guard of honour followed by military parade and military shows by the graduates.
Shaikh Hamdan honoured graduates who came first in various categories such as general results, behaviour and punctuality, weapon and shooting, military training and physical fitness.
Rashid Abdullah Al Baloushi from the UAE, who came first in general results, said: "Success is not an easy thing, but it is not impossible, as it can be achieved by hard work, commitment and some sacrifice. This helps in achieving goals and turning dreams into reality."
Another graduate, Rashid Al Yammahi, who came second in general results, said: "A learner must be patient and ambitious to achieve success. I dedicate my success to my country."
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