Emirati honoured for saving 5 after boat capsize

Al Zarouni heeded cries for help when private boat sank off Palm Deira

Dubai: Dubai Police honoured an Emirati man for saving the lives of five people when their boat went down off Palm Deira.

Major General Abdul Rahman Rafei, Acting Dubai Police Chief, honoured Mohammad Al Zarouni, for pulling out five of his countrymen from the sea after their boat sank.

The incident took place last Saturday evening when a private boat in which the five Emiratis had ventured out to sea was toppled by waves generated by a large ship passing by about 25km off Palm Deira. All five occupants of the boat were flung into the water.

Al Zarouni, who along with a friend was relaxing on a boat out at sea, heard the men calling out for help. He jumped into the water and pulled the drowning men out one by one. He revived two of the rescued men and provided blankets to the others, who were all exhausted by their ordeal, before taking all of them ashore.

Major General Rafei praised the selflessness and heroism of Al Zarouni.