SHARJAH // A man died while trying to save his camel from drowning at a beach, police have said.
The Sudanese camel trainer, believed to be in his twenties, went to Al Hamriya beach with his sponsor and two Asian men to wash the animal in the sea.
“On arrival at the beach the camel hurried towards the water and got into the sea. The Sudanese man jumped into the water to rescue it,” said Maj Khalid Ali Obaid Al Ali, the director of CID at Al Hamriya police station.
“Instead the poor guy drowned in the water and the camel floated.”
Maj Al Ali said police were alerted after the two Asian men raised the alarm and asked people on the beach to help them find their colleague, who had disappeared under the water.
“More people were going to the sea but they could not find or rescue him,” he said. “The police rescuers and Coastguards then hurried to the scene and were joined by the Sharjah Police Air Wing in the search for the missing man.
“It took them about four hours to locate the body of the victim. When they pulled it out it was about 200 metres into the water.”
The body was taken to Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in Ajman. The camel was pulled safely from the water unharmed.
Maj Al Ali said officers had launched an investigation into the incident, along with the animal’s owner.
Animals are not allowed on the emirate’s beaches for any reason because it risks the animal’s life and that of the person charged with taking care of it, warned Maj Al Ali.
“Any violations are punished by the law,” said Maj Al Ali, who also asked beachgoers to report similar incidents to the police.
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