12-year-old boy drowns in Sharjah wadi; police issue urgent warning to parents

Sharjah: A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in Wadi Al Helo in the Kalba area of Sharjah, prompting Sharjah Police to issue an urgent warning against swimming in wadis and rainwater pools.

Police said the incident was reported at 7:05pm on Wednesday, when the operations room received a call about the child entering the water to swim.

Emergency teams rushed to the scene, recovered the child from the water, and carried out rescue and first aid procedures before transferring him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His body was subsequently handed over to his family.

In the aftermath, authorities warned that wadis and rainwater pools are highly deceptive and dangerous, with uneven and unpredictable depths that make it difficult to assess risk. The presence of slippery surfaces and unstable muddy ground further increases the likelihood of sudden falls, which can quickly lead to drowning or serious injuries.

Sharjah Police extended their sincere condolences to the boy’s family, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen parental supervision and community awareness.

Officials urged parents to closely monitor their children’s whereabouts and prevent them from accessing hazardous areas, while educating them about the dangers of swimming in non-designated locations.

Police reiterated that safety is a shared responsibility, calling on the public to report any behaviour that may endanger children by calling 901 for non-emergencies or 999 in urgent cases.