Strong current off JBR beach sweeps mum away

A 64-year old British tourist drowned in the sea off Jumeirah Beach Residence on Wednesday February 22nd, confirmed Dubai Port Police.  

An official of the Emergency Unit at Rashid Hospital confirms that on Wednesday afternoon the body of the British woman was rushed in to the hospital. However, she had died before reaching the hospital and there was nothing they could do for her.

The British woman JM, was on holiday in Dubai to visit her daughter when she decided to go for a swim at JBR beach.

“My mum was here on holiday and was able to swim, but the current was just too strong and took her from us,” writes her daughter Alison on a social media forum.

In the same message Alison thanks the people who tried to help that day:

“To the man who helped me do CPR on her, to the man who looked after my children and packed up our stuff for us. To the taxi driver who prayed for us all the way to Rashid hospital in rush hour traffic and finally to all those who called 999.”

The incident on Wednesday is the second drowning incident this year, in addition two cases of injuries due to rough sea conditions on the Dubai coastline.

In 2011 the total number of drowning incidents due to rough sea conditions reached 13, in addition to two cases of injuries.

The Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is a two kilometer strip of unguarded beach and is one of the four beaches categorized as a public beach, explains engineer Ahmad Abdel Karim, director of the Public Parks and Horticulture Department.

“At these beaches the responsibility lies with the beachgoer and there are no rules imposed on him, in contrary to the recreational beaches, where Dubai Municipality carries responsibility,” says Ahmad.

At the time of the incident the sea was estimated by the National Center of Meteorologyand Seismology (NCMS) as rough to very rough, showing waves of 5-7 feet high. “This would be considered as dangerous,” says a spokesperson of NCMS. “In such conditions we advise people not to swim.”

Although weather conditions and warnings are announced by NCMS through various channels, many say it is not enough as the information might not reach all people, especially tourists.

“It is the public status of these beaches that causes incidents to continue to happen,” says Lt. Col. Abdullah Al Mazyoud, vice-director of the Port Police Station.

“There are no facilities, nobody to give instructions and no breakwater although a beach like JBR beach does really need this,” Abdullah says.

Other public beaches in Dubai are Jebel Ali Beach, Al Sufouh Beach and certain parts of Jumeirah Beach.

For the next three days abnormal weather conditions are forecasted and Abdullah advises people not to swim, in addition to fisherman and touristic boats not to take up the sea.

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