Fujairah crash: Grief-stricken families recall agonising hours in hospitals, and painful farewells

Fujairah: The families of individuals who died in the traffic accident that took place in the emirate of Fujairah at dawn last Thursday talked about the painful hours they lived through, from losing contact with their loved ones, through searching for them in hospitals and waiting for the results of identification tests, to the final moments of farewell. The incident left behind heartbreaking stories of loss, including two friends who shared childhood, national service, and university studies, and were on the verge of graduating, before their lives ended together and they were buried in two adjacent graves. There was also a father who lost his twin sons and his three-year-old grandson, and a mother who passed away, leaving behind two children, aged seven and nine. The families of the deceased confirmed that large numbers of citizens and residents came to offer their condolences and stand by them, noting that this solidarity alleviated some of the pain of the bereaved and embodied the depth of the human bonds that unite the members of Emirati society. A bond of friendship Mohammed Rashid Ali Al Kindi and Khalfan Saeed Al Mazrouei, who died in the accident, did everything together - from growing up together, and joining the national service, to university. Picture credit: Supplied A friendship that had lasted since childhood brought together two young men, Mohammed Rashid Ali Al Kindi and Khalfan Saeed Al Mazrouei, from the city of Kalba. They grew up together, joined the national service at the same time, and then continued their university studies until they reached their final year, with only a little time left before their graduation, before they died in the accident and their bodies were laid to rest in two adjacent graves. The father of the deceased, Mohammed Rashid Ali Al Kindi, said that his son and his friend Khalfan had shared life's journeys since childhood, to the point that their presences became inextricably linked in the memories of both families. He explained that the two young men had traveled together to Abu Dhabi to complete some paperwork for Khalfan and had also visited his son's grandmother. He noted that Mohammed contacted his mother at around 11pm, telling her he was on Mleiha road, and that was their last contact. He added: “Half an hour later, his mother came back and called him, but found his phone switched off. Anxiety began to creep into our hearts as the connection remained cut off, until his brother heard about the accident, so we rushed to the hospitals to look for them.” Mohammed Rashid Ali Al Kindi said that his son and his friend Khalfan had shared life's journeys since childhood. Picture credit: Supplied He added that the family initially went to several hospitals in the area but couldn't find them. They then went to Fujairah Hospital, where samples were taken from family members for identification. The results didn't come back until yesterday morning, when the young men's deaths were confirmed. He said the loss was devastating for both families, especially since the two young men were preparing to graduate from university. He added: "Even their graves were prepared next to each other, just as they had been together throughout their lives. They were among the finest young men, and we are patient and seek our reward from God Almighty." He noted that they were buried after Friday prayers. The father of the deceased, Khalfan Saeed Al Mazrouei, said that the close relationship between his son and his friend made the two families decide to hold the mourning ceremony in one place. He added: “They were brothers in this world since childhood, and we ask God to bring us together with them in Paradise.” He noted that the results of the identification tests for the two young men appeared at a similar time, after hours of waiting and searching, saying: “May God have mercy on them, and inspire their mothers with patience and solace, and we ask God to make them among the people of Paradise.” He stressed that the grief over their passing was not limited to the two families, given the solidarity and condolences they received from members of the community, adding: “We did not lose our two sons alone, but we felt that everyone shared our loss. Condolences poured in to stand by us before the mourning tent was even set up, in a gesture that embodies the cohesion and solidarity of the UAE community, and alleviates our pain of loss.” Indian family loses three members Sadiq Tobilikat, an Indian national who was the owner of Eva Cafeteria, lost his 21-year-old twin sons, along with his three-year-old grandson, Muhammad Faiz. Picture credit: Supplied In another story of loss caused by the accident, Siddique Thoppilkat, an Indian national who was the owner of Eva Cafeteria, lost his 21-year-old twins, a son and a daughter, along with his three-year-old grandson, Muhammad Faiz. He said that news of the accident reached the family through his eldest son, and family members found themselves facing a