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Man drowns off Ajman beach while swimming

AJMAN — A 27-year-old Egyptian national drowned while swimming with four of his friends off the Ajman beach yesterday morning.

Brigadier Salih Al Matroushi, Director-General of Ajman Civil Defence, told Khaleej Times that the incident happened around 8.30am when the victim, Jamal M., and four Arab friends were swimming.

Jamal went too far into the sea and might have got tired due to the high waves as the day was windy. He drowned in the end, Al Matroushi said.

Rescue teams of Civil Defence, coast guard and frogmen (divers) mounted a massive search operation on being alerted about the accident.

“Our frogmen and others had difficulty in tracing the victim due to poor visibility and strong winds. A police air force helicopter spotted the body after 45 minutes,” he said.

The body has been sent to the forensic laboratory for autopsy.

The friends were in a state of shock. They later told the police that they were having fun but the weather was not too good and the sea was a little rough. Suddenly they heard the screams for help from Jamal but could not rescue him. They, however, immediately alerted the emergency room.

Al Matroushi said the particular spot was not a prohibited area but the day was not suitable for swimming.

Warning signs have been put up in the area notifying beach-goers about the strong winds during this entire week.