11-year-old boy drowns on Day 1 of his swimming lesson in UAE

Sharjah - Eye witnesses said there was no lifeguard within the pool premises.

An 11-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool of a residential complex in Sharjah earlier this week. The police have launched an investigation into his death, which reportedly happened during a swimming class.
The boy, D.R (name withheld at his parents' request), was attending advanced swimming lessons at a fitness club in Al Qadesiah Tower in Al Nahda when the incident happened on Sunday, sources close to the child's family have said.
The incident took place at the Tiger Fitness Club in the tower, and employees of the club have confirmed reports about DR's death to Khaleej Times.
Eye witnesses said there was no lifeguard within the pool premises and the instructor did not know how to administer CPR.
"D.R. was a brilliant child, with no pre-existing conditions. He was sports-minded, active and a very smart boy. He used to go to the football academy and was very dedicated to his mum," according to a family friend.
"The family lived in the building next door. He joined the swimming classes on the same day and was attending his first class with the instructor on Sunday."
Elaborating on the series of events that led to his death, the family friend said: "I was told that he used to swim in the pool casually. However, when the lessons were launched, his mother enrolled him on the same evening. Between 6.30pm and 7pm, they met with the instructor."
He added: "She could not enter the premises because, during evenings, only gentlemen were allowed to use the gym. She left him at the gym and returned to her apartment in the next building."
Then at 9pm, the mother reportedly got a call from her husband, alerting her that something had gone wrong, the source said.
"She rushed back to the fitness centre."
When the ambulance arrived, the boy was rushed to the emergency department of Al Qasimi Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The exact cause of the boy's death, along with all other details, is still under investigation. Family sources also said they are waiting for the post-mortem report.
A relative revealed that the swimming sessions were held for a group class, and other children were present when the drowning incident took place.
Khaleej Times' calls made to the club management were unanswered, and the manager refused to comment on the issue.
Calls were also made to the real estate company, as well as the property developer Tiger Group, to no avail.
However, an employee at the fitness centre confirmed that the incident took place.
The boy's funeral is expected to take place on Thursday in Sharjah, added the source.
'Even best swimmers drown'
If proper safety protocol is not followed, even good swimmers may drown in a matter of minutes, experts have said.
A series of drowning incidents shook the country in recent months, including a tragic one that killed Emirati twins who were just two years old.
According to the International Life Saving Federation, a study of over 1,000 incidents worldwide has revealed that most drowning victims fell in three age categories, 0 to 5 years old, 20 to 25 years old, and over 60 years old.
The report said: "Older children drown less frequently but still in large numbers. They generally drown because of their parents' inadequate supervision. Parents may have unrealistic expectations about how well their children obey their safety rules when not directly supervised."
Atheeth Rathishan, a swimming instructor who conducts summer lessons in Qusais, Dubai, said "anything can happen at any time".
"Pool operators should not expect the trainer to be the lifeguard. There must be a lifeguard present on duty at all times when the pool is being used," he said. 
Rathishan said drowning incidents peak in the warmer seasons as people flock to the water for recreation and relief from the heat.
"Swimmers, even the average ones, are sometimes unsupervised in pools and open waters. Lifeguards pay attention to the novice swimmers. I think safety experts must be vigilant at all times," he said.
Kyle Evans, a Dubai-based fitness trainer, said: "Swimming for too long, no matter how experienced you are, can pose as a huge risk. Swimming for long periods of time requires stamina and that is built over time."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah