A family holiday during Eid Al Adha turned into a heartbreaking tragedy after a 29-year-old Indian expat reportedly died while scuba diving off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.
According to Gulf News, the victim was identified as Issac Paul Olakkengil, a civil engineer based in Dubai. He was with his wife, Reshma, and younger brother, Ivin, when the incident occurred during a training session on Friday.
Pyarilos Davis, a family friend assisting with the case, told Gulf News that Issac appeared to have trouble breathing underwater, prompting panic among the group. “It seems they were getting trained for scuba diving, and apparently, he couldn’t breathe properly and moved away from the pack,” Davis said. “I was told Reshma was rescued to the shore first, followed by the other two.”
Issac was rushed to a hospital but could not be revived. His brother Ivin, who is based in Abu Dhabi, also collapsed upon arrival at the hospital but has since been reported to be in stable condition.
Dubai Police have reportedly confiscated the scuba diving equipment as part of their investigation. The family is now working closely with authorities to complete the necessary procedures for repatriating Issac’s remains.
As of Saturday evening, Ivin had not yet been informed of his brother’s passing due to the emotional weight of the news. “Ivin’s friends just told me they are concerned about breaking this heart-wrenching news to him, as the brothers shared a strong bond,” Davis added.
