Boy, 11, drowns in Sharjah pool at residential tower

Sharjah: Police are investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy who drowned at a swimming pool in Sharjah on Monday evening.

The Asian child was swimming at the pool of a residential tower in Al Nahda, near his residence.

“At around 5.30pm, my brother went to the pool at the building next door for his first swimming class. He did not know how to swim, and wanted to learn," the victim's older brother told Gulf News.

"My brother was with the swimming instructor at the time, but the teacher didn’t know how to carry out first aid," he said.

The victim was transferred to the emergency department at Al Qasimi Hospital at 8.48pm, and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Police across the country have launched a summer awareness campaign to warn parents of the dangers associated with swimming pools, especially as school have closed for the summer – leaving children with bundles of time on their hands.

Residents across the emirates were urged to monitor their children at all times, and to ensure that pools are equipped with the necessary safety measures, such as a lifeguard on duty, life jacket and arm floats, and that the pool deck is installed with a non-slippery surface.

In a swimming pool safety guideline issued by the Public Health and Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, the civic body explained that a qualified lifeguard should be available when people are swimming at public pools, and that a first-aid box with medicines and equipment should be provided.

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Source: Dubai Municipality