Man dies in UAE after unable to return due to coronavirus lockdown in India

Sharjah - 'The final rites will take place at the Sharjah crematorium'

A 70 year old Indian visitor who was unable to travel back to India due to the travel ban across India and UAE, died of a heart attack on Friday.
Prof M Sreekumar and his wife Sreekumari came to the UAE a month ago on a visit visa from Cochin to spend time with their daughter, who stays in Sharjah with her family. They were to return to Kerala on Saturday but due to flight cancellations had to stay back.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Sreekumar's cousin Satish Kumar Menon said, the family is still trying to come to terms with the news of his sudden demise.
"He was hale and hearty when I met him about three weeks ago before the lockdown happened. And although he did not suffer from any serious health issues, he was a bit concerned about the lockdown situation as he had been here for more tha a month and was looking forward to returning to his home town Ernakulum in Kerala. But this indefinite flight suspension did make him a bit anxious, however, he never showed it much," Menon said.
"On Thursday night Sreekumar was having dinner with his family in Sharjah when he had a massive heart attack and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital and suffered a series of heart attacks throughout the night, before breathing his last at 10am on Friday morning," Menon said.
He is survived by two daughters, the elder one Sreeja S is in Sharjah and the other daughter Sreela S stays with her family in Ernakulam.
After teaching in various government colleges, Sreekumar retired as professor of Statistics from Maharajas College, Ernakulam and was much loved and revered by hundreds of students he had taught for over three decades.
"Since there is no way we can repatriate the body so the final rites will take place at the Sharjah crematorium," Menon said.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah