Brother thanks social media for helping locate Emirati student

Dubai: The brother of missing student Yousuf Al Otoubi, who was found in Dubai's Rashid Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) on Tuesday afternoon, has thanked Gulf News for helping locate his brother.

Jamal Al Otoubi, 27, started a Twitter campaign to help find his missing brother who was last seen at the family home on Sunday , February 19. Jamal quickly gained over 500 followers as the UAE Twitter community came together to locate the 22-year-old, American University in the Emriates student.

"[The] Credit should go to Gulf News and Twitter for publishing the pics that helped identify him. Thank you all for everything again," posted Jamal on the social media site. He uses the Twitter handle @JMusabih,

Yousuf was identified at Rashid Hospital on Tuesday after being admitted unconscious to the accident and emergency department three days earlier.

Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of Dubai Police's Criminal Investigation Department, said the young man was jaywalking near the first interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road when he ran into a car.

It is suspected he fell down, hit his head and lost consciousness.

"The young man was not carrying identification documents and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital for three days without being identified," Brig Al Mansouri said.

"We do not know where he was since his family reported him missing on February 19, but we wish to thank the family for their civilised behaviour by reporting the matter to the concerned authorities and seeking help through social media," Brig Al Mansouri said.

"He had been unconscious for three days and we were not able to identify him and notify his family until he regained consciousness today," another Dubai Police official told Gulf News on Tuesday. "He was in an intoxicated state and walked in front of a car and got hit."

The official added it was not a hit-and-run case as the driver was the one who called the ambulance. However, Yousuf's type of intoxication has not been specified.

"We know he was not in a normal state, whether it was alcohol or drugs we don't know," said the police official. "We are not commenting any further on the issue at this time."

However, Gulf News learned on the basis of anonymity that Yousuf was admitted to hospital in a suspected drug overdose incident.

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When his family reported Yousuf missing to police, patrols were informed and search teams were formed to find for him.

"When we were informed by the hospital about a young man who was admitted after a car accident, a team from the department visited him after coordinating with the public relations department at Rashid Hospital," Brig Al Mansouri said.

After confirming that the injured man, who is in stable condition, is Yousuf Al Otoubi, his family was informed. Police earlier confirmed that Yousuf's car was found in the parking lot of Dubai Mall and had entered the parking lot on February 19 — the day he went missing.