Dubai: A yacht owner, a captain and an operator landed in court for accidentally injuring a couple who fell when the handrail of the vessel snapped.
The British couple, in their 30s, were among a group of 60 persons enjoying a sea cruise on-board the yacht at Dubai Marina one Friday afternoon.
The yacht had sailed off at 1pm and anchored in the middle of the sea off Jumeirah for four hours, according to records. The incident happened while the captain was berthing at one of the piers at Dubai Marina in November 2015.
Records said the British man and his countrywoman, whom he had just met and got acquainted during the cruise, were leaning on the stainless-steal handrail while the vessel was just about to berth. The handrail suddenly snapped and the British couple fell from a three-metre-height, sustaining injuries and fractures.
Police and paramedics were called in to the location and the Britons were rushed to the hospital.
Medical reports confirmed that the British woman sustained displaced fracture and disruption in her pelvic bones.
Meanwhile, the British man sustained fracture in his skull and spine and a clavicular displaced fracture plus injuries to his legs.
The yacht’s Palestinian owner, Indian captain and Egyptian operator were summoned for questioning due to their involvement in the accident.
Prosecutors accused the trio of being responsible for the accident due to their negligence and that they were accountable for the couple’s injuries. According to the accusation sheet, prosecutors said the British man was left with a seven per cent permanent disability.
When the suspects appeared before the Dubai Misdemeanours Court, they pleaded not guilty and denied being liable for the couple’s injuries.
In her statement to the police, the British woman said the incident happened after she accepted a friend’s invite to a yacht cruise at Dubai Marina.
“While the captain was docking the vessel, my countryman and I were standing on the surface and holding the handrail. It suddenly snapped and we fell off the surface and landed on the side of the yacht. I sustained a painful injury in my pelvis area and right leg. I believe that the handrail had not been maintained properly and it broke while we were leaning to it and chatting,” she testified.
The yacht’s captain told police interrogators that he did not see the Britons falling but heard a loud bang and the passengers shouting.
“When I rushed down to the yacht, I was told by a passenger that the couple were leaning to the stainless-steal handrail when it broke and they fell from the surface,” alleged the captain.
A ruling will be heard later this month.
