Fujairah: A 21-year-old Emirati, the focus of a 24-hour manhunt, was found dead in a waterfall on Phuket Island in Thailand on Friday morning, Gulf News has learnt.
The body of Sultan Ali Al Shehi was retrieved by divers after he vanished on Thursday night after being with friends. It is understood the young man fell after attempting to take some pictures at the waterfall.
The UAE Embassy launched a search to trace Al Sheihi after his family and friends sought help from Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, via social networks.
Shaikh Abdullah gave instructions to the UAE Embassy in Thailand to find him as soon as possible.
Al Shehi, who hails from the Gadfa area of Fujairah, graduated from Zayed Military College in January carrying the rank of lieutenant.
“Last Friday his family celebrated his graduation from Zayed Military College and this Friday they mourned his death,” a family member told Gulf News on Friday.
“It was dark and his friends could not trace the destination of their friend.. they reported the incident to the UAE embassy in Thailand and sought their help,” said the relative.
“He was a polite man and everyone who knew him loved him for his good nature. He respected the elderly and was kind to kids,” the relative said.
Mohammad Omran Al Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Thailand, said in a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Emirati was found dead in one of the waterfalls on the island of Phuket in Thailand on Friday morning. The Ambassador said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intensified their efforts after receiving tips reporting the disappearance of the young man.
The UAE Embassy in Bangkok, in coordination with the Thai authorities, managed to find Al Shehi’s body.
The UAE embassy is working to complete the procedures to transfer the deceased’s body to the UAE as quickly as possible.
“We pray to Almighty Allah to bestow his mercy to the deceased’s soul and give tolerance and patience to his family,“ Al Shamsi said.
