Twin tragedy as son, mother pass away days apart

Manama: Tragedy struck a Saudi family twice as both a son and his mother passed away days apart.

Hassan Ahmad Al Hassan, a California-based student in architecture on a state scholarship, was playing football with his friends on Wednesday afternoon when he collapsed.

He was rushed to hospital, but died on the way, reports said, adding that doctors believed the death was caused by a decrease in blood-sugar levels.

His body is scheduled to arrive at King Fahad airport in Dammam, the main city in the Eastern Province, on Monday.

However, his mother will not see her son’s body as grief has reportedly overwhelmed her.

The mother was breaking her fast on Saturday when she felt weak and exhausted, a relative told Saudi daily Al Riyadh. She was taken to a hospital in Al Ahsa in eastern Saudi Arabia where she passed away, leaving her husband and her family in deeper distress.

Social media users on Saturday evening shared their grief over the twin tragedy and offered prayers for mercy for the departed and for fortitude for the grieving family and friends.

“One of the most excruciating experiences for a parent is the loss of a son or a daughter,” Al Aneed posted. “May God rest their souls in eternal peace.”