Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sharjah Police’s specialised teams, in co-operation with the Coast Guard rescued 16 people, after a pleasure boat capsized on an Eastern Region’s beach last Friday. One person died later as a result of the accident. 

According to Colonel Dr Ali Al Kay Al Hamoudi, Director of the Eastern Region Police Department, a report was received at the department’s operations room at 3:40pm on Friday stating that a pleasure boat had capsized and its occupants had fallen into the sea.

Specialized teams including rescue teams, national ambulance and police patrols, in co-ordination and co-operation with the Coast Guard went to the scene of the accident and pulled out all the passengers of the boat, he said.

As many as four people including a child were injured as a result of the accident he added, noting that they were immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment but one of them, an Asian, 38, died later.

Preliminary investigations revealed that some transgressions led the boat to capsize. Those behind the accident were referred to the competent authorities.

Al Hamoudi called on pleasure boat companies to comply with security and safety procedures, drive with caution and abide by the maximum number of passengers who must wear life jackets for safety purposes.