Tourist drowns in sea off Al Khan beach

Sharjah: An elderly tourist visiting Al Khan beach drowned on Sunday morning.

A Sharjah Police official said the police operations room received a notification about an Armenian woman who was in difficulty.

The emergency services went to the scene but the 75-year-old woman was already dead. Her body was taken to Kuwaiti Hospital and later to the forensic laboratory for an autopsy.

Sharjah Police said those who insist on swimming in the sea should pay heed to warnings about which stretches are dangerous — for instance, beaches with rocks or rip currents.

They advised swimmers to be extra careful during high wind or bad weather conditions and to avoid dangerous places.

Al Khan beach has several signs urging beach-goers not to swim in rough weather or places with currents but many ignore them.

In March Sharjah Police launched a safety campaign to warn residents and tourists about the potential dangers of going to the beach during the summer.

Lieutenant Colonel Yousuf Bin Harmol, director of Buhairah police station in Sharjah, said the ‘Safety First’ initiative was discussed in a meeting with officers and hotel directors and representatives.

Police called for a specialised sea police unit and new legislation to protect swimmers after dozens of people drowned at beaches last summer.

Officers said some of the victims had ignored signs that warn people about currents.

The new initiative aimed to prevent swimmers from entering dangerous water to reduce the number of deaths.

Directions and guidance were given to the hotel directors and their representatives about how to deal with emergency cases and problems and how to find appropriate solutions.