Emirati saves man from sinking vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah

Sreengrabs from a video shows Emirati man's heroic mission.

A 40-year-old Emirati man has rescued a motorist from a sinking sedan in a flooded valley here during the recent heavy showers.
The Emirati man, identified only as W.S., saved the 30-year-old Emirati youth who insisted on crossing Al Beeh valley, some 15km east RAK city, ignoring repeated warnings issued by the authorities.
While onlookers watched the horrible scene not knowing what to do, the unsung hero, who wished to remain anonymous, jumped into the water with his four-wheel drive car, and pushed the stuck saloon car out of the flooded valley.
Khaleej Times managed to reach out to the rescuer. He told: "I did not think twice, as every second counted, and if I had taken more time thinking, I would not have been able to rescue his life."
He added that he was well aware that he himself might have been swept away by the floods, but he "could not stand still, while another human being was about to die".
"Thanks to Almighty Allah who gave me the courage to take the right decision, and act promptly to save his life, because if anything went wrong, I might have lost the young man, or I myself may have got stuck and washed away by the floods."
He drove slowly until he reached the rear of the stuck saloon car, and started pushing it repetitively until he got it out of the stream of the flooded valley.
"This was actually the only option as there was no chain or rope to pull or drag the stuck car, and time was running out fast."
According to eyewitnesses, if W.S. hadn't acted swiftly, the stuck sedan car would have been swept away as the water level was getting higher posing a grave risk to the young man's life.
Some other Emirati men at the scene recorded his brave act and posted it on the social media. The rescue footage went viral, and it  opened a wide discussion on the bravery of the rescuer, and carelessness of the young drivers.
Mahmoud Al Sahlawi, an Emirati citizen, said the young man should be held responsible for his carelessness.  "Those young people are just killing themselves and bringing sadness to their families."
Alya Alteneiji, an Emirati woman, said: "It was better for them to use a rope to pull the stuck car out of the flooded valley."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com