A 29-year-old Indian man has died from a cardiac arrest after he began struggling to breathe during an entry-level scuba diving lesson at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.
Issac Paul Olakkengil, an engineer originally from Kerala in India, was holidaying in Jumeirah during the Eid Al Adha Festival when the incident occurred on 6 June.
Olakkengil’s uncle, David Pyarilos, told local media that Olakkengil was receiving instruction with his wife, Reshma, and younger brother, Ivin, at a designated diver training site when he began struggling to breathe.
Pyarilos, who is assisting the family with the repatriation of his nephew’s body to India, told local media that Olakkengil became separated from the group as he struggled, at which point the other group members began to panic.
‘Everybody panicked and was impacted underwater,’ he said. ‘I was told Reshma was rescued to the shore first, followed by the other two.’
Olakkengil was rushed to hospital, but medics were unable to revive him, citing his cause of death as cardiac arrest.
His brother, Ivin, also collapsed, although the circumstances in which he did so are unclear. He is said to be ‘out of danger’ and recovering, but was not notified of his brother’s death until the following day.
Dubai police have launched an investigation into the incident, with which the family is cooperating. The scuba diving equipment used during the training has been seized for analysis.
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By DIVE Staff
