Divers retrieve body of lone swimmer who drowned

Dubai: A man drowned and four others were rescued at Jumeirah Beach in Umm Suqueim on Friday evening.

Captain Yahya Hussain, Head of the Dubai Police Sea Rescue Section, said rescue teams and divers saved four Arab men who almost drowned off the beach near the Burj Al Arab.

He said the rescuers also retrieved the body of an Indian man who drowned in the same incident.

The Dubai Police Operations Room had received a report about four people drowning near Umm Suqueim.

Captain Hussain said rescuers and divers arrived at the scene and provided first aid to the four people. One of them was taken to Rashid Hospital.

"One Indian man drowned, and one of the other four was taken to a hospital for treatment," Captain Hussain said.

Drifted away

The divers retrieved the body of the Indian man who perished while swimming alone.

The body had been pulled away from the shore by the strong currents. It was taken from the water at 8pm, two hours after the report.

Captain Hussain said the area where the incident took place is dangerous and many near-drownings have been reported there since February because of the changing weather conditions and sudden impact of waves and currents.

He said a sudden change in sea conditions was behind Friday's incident.

Captain Hussain warned beachgoers from swimming alone.

He called on beachgoers to take necessary precautions before going swimming and to avoid swimming near rocks, which create unpredictable currents.