Saeed Haider

Saudi Gazette

DAMMAM — Three members of a family drowned in a beach near King Abdullah Road in Dammam in a futile attempt to save each other on Saturday.



Border Guard Commander in the Eastern Province Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Arkoubi said the family had come from Al-Ahsa to spend the Eid Al-Fitr holiday in Dammam.



The 39-year-old father and his son and daughter were at the beach like hundreds of other vacationers enjoying their Eid holiday.



According to eyewitness accounts, the teenage girl was playing in the sea in what she considered as shallow water. After a while her shrieks alarmed her 15-year-old brother, who jumped in the waters to rescue her. By that time water current has dragged her quite deep.



Seeing his son struggling to save his drowning daughter, the father also jumped in but to no avail. All three were swept away by the force of the current and drowned.



People in the vicinity immediately alerted Coast Guards, who with the help of volunteers around the beach recovered the bodies after a frantic search.



Al-Arkoubi expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, which he said could have been averted if visitors to the beach strictly followed instructions.



He noted that there are warning signs prohibiting swimming in the area, but the girl apparently did not pay attention to the signs.



Al-Arkoubi said Coast Guards in the Eastern Province succeeded in rescuing more than 40 people at different locations during the Eid holidays.



He called upon  people to avoid going into the high seas, especially during high tides.



“Those who could not swim should avoid going into even shallow waters, especially when tides are high," Al-Arkoubi said, adding that the Coast Guards have put warning signs at all sensitive locations and some of the dangerous areas have been banned for visitors.



“Cooperation from citizens and residents is necessary to have safe and secure outings,” he added.