With reporting from Elysia Windrum
Beach revelry during the Eid al-Fitr holidays turned tragic this week after two people drowned while swimming in Al Wakrah beach and another died while swimming at Sealine beach.
According to Qatar Tribune, the two who died at Al Wakrah Beach were swimming with friends when the high tide struck on Tuesday. The deceased are Paul Ngugi Karoki, 29, and Joyce Wairimu Gitau, 30, who hailed from Kenya.
When reached for comment, an embassy official told Doha News that he could not confirm the deaths, but added that the police are investigating the incident.
However, the newspaper quoted a Kenyan embassy official as saying:
“The two were in a group of four when they went out to swim at around 4pm on Tuesday. They continued swimming and a few minutes after 5pm the tides started becoming stronger. Two of them stopped swimming while the other two continued with their swimming.”
The official added that the bodies of the deceased were retrieved late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning at 1am.
Also on Tuesday, a man drowned while swimming at Sealine Beach, according to the Peninsula, but further details are not available.
Other drownings
Drownings in Qatar are uncommon, but tend to increase in the summer months and during the holidays.
For example, Last October, two Filipino expats drowned while crabbing in Al Khor on the first day of Eid al-Adha. They too had been caught by the rising tide while two of their friends eventually made it to safety.
As more people flock to the beaches to cool off, the Ministry of Interior has posted a series of messages on Twitter, warning residents to take care while swimming in the sea:
Coasts and Borders Security Dept advises all sea goers to abide by safety rules and procedures.#Qatar #Doha #MoI_Qatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 30, 2014
Make sure that the watercraft is safe to ride and wrap the lanyard around your wrist. #Qatar #Doha #MoI_Qatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 30, 2014
People without experience and the children below legal age should not ride a watercraft. #Qatar #Doha #MoI_Qatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 30, 2014
How are you staying safe at the beach? Thoughts?
