RIYADH — The exhumation of the body of Muhammad Ali Aqeed, a Tunisian footballer who had played for a Saudi club and died in Riyadh following a lightning strike 33 years ago during a practice session, has made headlines in the Tunisian press.



The body was exhumed Tuesday from a graveyard in Tunisia in the presence of the player’s family and representatives of the Tunisian government, Arreyadi sports newspaper reported Thursday.



Aqeed was signed up by Al-Riyadh Sports Club at the time.



The medical report issued at the time of his death showed that the player was struck by lightning while he was practicing with his colleagues from the club.



There had been speculations about the actual cause of death and the player’s family raised suspicions about the Saudi account. They were not allowed by the Tunisian authorities to take a final look at the body because of tight security measures at the burial.



The family filed a request for the exhumation of the body following the country’s Arab Spring revolution. The request was granted by the new Tunisian government.



The forensic doctor’s opinion would finally bring closure to the bereaved family, said Qais Bin Saeeda, the family’s lawyer.



Tunisian newspapers have published interviews of some witnesses who were present when Aqeed was struck down by lightning.



Ammar Nahali, then-coach of Al-Riyadh Club, asserted that Aqeed died following a fatal lightning strike and dismissed rumors floated at the time that the player had been “eliminated”.



“On that fateful day, the players were practicing as usual to prepare for a decisive match against Al-Hilal,” Nahali recalled. “All of a sudden, a thunderstorm started. A powerful bolt struck us down and it took a few minutes for us to get back to our senses. Then we found Aqeed lying motionless on the ground.”



Nahali and other players were in a state of shock when they saw Aqeed’s body. He was stone dead and there was a long, deep cut in his body from neck to toe. “The strangest thing was that there was no stain of blood. It was so shocking and we didn’t know what to do,” Nahali said.



Nahali and his players carried Aqeed’s semi-charred body to Al-Jaish Hospital, which was the closest to the location where they were training.

Nahali said Aqeed was wearing a gold necklace and this caused his death, a fact confirmed by the Saudi doctor who examined the body.



“Rumors spread following Aqeed’s death but we all know how he died. These rumors didn’t have a shred of truth in them and were spread for unknown reasons,” said Nahali.



Aqeed’s body was laid in a casket, which was closed in the presence of Tunisian diplomats and other representatives from the country. “There was nothing suspicious about Aqeed’s death. You can ask Hamadi Al-Aqrabi who saw the body at the hospital.”



Al-Aqrabi confirmed Nahali’s account. He said Nahali tried to revive Aqeed but without success. “We saw his body at the hospital and we took part in the process of repatriating his body to Tunisia,” said Al-Aqrabi. — SG