Dubai nursery remains shut after boy nearly drowns in pool

Dubai - Two-year-old boy still in hospital in critical condition.

A nursery in Dubai remains temporarily closed after a two-year-old boy nearly drowned in a swimming pool there. The boy is still recuperating in a critical state.
Students of the Satwa-based nursery have been left in limbo since May 19. However, Khaleej Times has learnt from one parent that the students were transferred to the nursery's sister branch in Deira on Sunday.
On May 23, Khaleej Times reported how two-year-old Syed Raza Abbas's lifeless body was allegedly pulled from a pool on the premises of the nursery on May 19. Staff had noticed the boy was missing at the end of morning playtime.
Since the incident, Syed - affectionately called Raza by his family - has been on supportive medication in the intensive care unit at Latifa Hospital, Dubai.
Speaking from the hospital on Saturday, his father, Safdar Abbas, said the toddler remains in a coma. "There has been no significant change but we are still waiting for that moment our son wakes up and starts looking for us."
Following publication of the news last week, several parents of students who attend the nursery have visited Latifa Hospital to offer comfort to the family, but have reportedly expressed concern over the lack of verbal communication with the school.
"These parents have had little explanation from the school's management as to why it has been closed. Why is the school hiding itself away? To me, that is a sign of guilt. When a serious incident like this happens they should be vocal about it," Abbas said.
The Dubai Police are investigating the incident.
A legal representative for the nursery said he could not comment on the case as it was "ongoing". However, he did confirm the nursery received "approval from the regulatory authorities" to transfer the Satwa-based students to their sister branch in Deira. Transportation will also be provided by the nursery.
One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was first alerted of the school's closure by email. "We received the email on the evening of May 19 that the school would remain closed for a period of one week. They gave no explanation as to why."
The email confirmed that the nursery would "reopen on Sunday, 29th May 2016", but she was unsuccessful in contacting the school by phone for further explanation.
"It was only after a friend alerted us of the news in Khaleej Times about this poor boy that we put two and two together. I am afraid to send my son back to the nursery after this."
On May 26 - one week after the incident - a second email was circulated among parents informing them that classes will commence in their Deira branch.
"The email said authorities would need a few days to conclude their ongoing inspections, but due to demand from parents they will be operating from their other nursery from May 29," the mother said.
As yet, she has had no verbal communication with the school.
"We have paid more than Dh3,000 in admission fees alone and my son has already been out of class for one week."
But aside from money, it is his well-being she is concerned for.
"To send him back to this other branch is a difficult situation for me. I will be very scared for his safety until he walks through the door at 12.40pm each day now. The alternative is to remove him but we cannot afford to pay for more admission fees in another school."
In Abbas's opinion, the school should remain closed.
"That nursery has already done what it has done to my child. What we want as a family is to prevent it from happening to another child. We continue to ask people to prayer for Syed's recovery."
According to the nursery's legal representative, one week's fees will be adjusted in the tuition fees for the month of June 2016 for all students affected by the closure.
He also affirmed that any parent wanting to speak to him directly can do so by requesting his contact details through the nursery's email ID.- kelly@khaleejtimes.com

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