Barber's massage proves nearly fatal

A simple massage at the barber's proved nearly fatal for a 21-year-old UAE national.

After the massage, Mohammed Al Muhairi suffered a mild pain in his neck and painkillers did not help.

A couple of hours later, things took a turn for the worse. He felt nauseous, and was unable to move his right hand.

Al Muhairi was immediately rushed to Welcare Hospital where it was found that he had a blood clot in his neck artery.

He was immediately rushed to the operation room, where a three-hour surgery was performed.

Dr Anibal Prentice, Consultant Neurologist, noted that barbers who are not trained as masseurs can easily injure people. In particular, he pointed to the way they twist people's necks.

He noted that Al Muhairi's case is very uncommon, but the situation can turn ugly fast and doctors may not have enough time to cure it.

"People can die within three hours if they are not treated fast. I believe that this type of surgery was performed for the first time in the UAE," he added.

"I advise people not to get their necks twisted during a massage or after a haircut, because it is very dangerous. Neck massage is good but they should avoid the twisting-the-neck bit," he explained.

Maman Yusuf, a barber, said that many people come for a neck massage everyday. Some of them ask for the neck twist and they really enjoy it, he said.

The barber said he learned the neck twist manoeuvre from experience – nobody had taught him. He has been a barber since 1979.

"People believe that a neck twist helps to relax. But I don't know how far that is true," he conceded.

Some people ask for a neck massage with the vibrating machines, he said.

P. Sulaiman, another barber, said he learned the neck twist trick back in Kerala, his home state in southern India. Most of the customers who ask for it are Indians, he said.