Updated at 1:45pm to include information on the memorial service and donation drive.
Many in the Education City community are in mourning following the death of a second-year pre-medical school student who was involved in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday afternoon.
The student, 20-year-old Qatari Jaber Al-Adba, was a student at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q).
The news was confirmed in an email sent to faculty and students by WCMC-Q’s Dean, Dr. Javaid Sheikh, and by Qatar Foundation on Twitter.
Neither named the student, but both expressed condolences:
“We are in touch with the family and will organize a gathering to honor his memory at an appropriate time,” Sheikh said.
It is with great regret that QF and @WCMCQ announce that a WCMCQ student has passed away as a result of a motorcycle accident.
— Qatar Foundation (@QF) August 27, 2014
The QF and @WCMCQ community sends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased student.
— Qatar Foundation (@QF) August 27, 2014
A memorial service for Al-Adba at the Education City dorms is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30.
His friends are collecting monetary donations across campus and plan to give the proceeds to a suitable charity in memory of Al-Adba.
https://twitter.com/Vivime/status/504914898397040640
What happened
Speaking to Doha News, several Cornell staffers and students said Al Adba had apparently crashed near the building while trying out his cousin’s motorcycle.
One of Al-Adba’s peers and close friend said:
“He was coming up from the parking lot when he took a bend, lost control and the bike flipped. He died on the spot…I don’t know if he was wearing a helmet, but he generally did.”
A member of the WCMC-Q housekeeping staff who was on the scene added that first responders arrived shortly after the accident, around 3:50pm.
He said he saw the motorcycle a few meters away from an unconscious Al-Adba, who was visibly wounded.
Another Cornell staffer said that medical faculty who were exiting the building as it was nearing the end of the day came over to offer assistance, but declared that Al-Adba had already passed away.
This is the second on-campus death in Education City in recent months. In May, a Texas A&M University at Qatar staffer was killed in a laboratory explosion.
Remembrance
Many of Al-Abda’s friends said they are in shock over his sudden demise.
Some said they remembered him as a funny young student, who always gave his friends rides in his car.
“I just met him yesterday. Hugged him. I can’t believe he’s not with us. We’ve all been crying,” said a friend who spoke to Doha News last night.
She added that a prayer was held last night in his memory, and that the family was holding a condolence visit of sorts today.
“We’ll all be going,” she said.
Note: Doha News has removed the photo of Al-Adba from this story at the request of his family.
