Afraid that it would dishonour her if she were to be touched by "strange men", a man left his daughter to drown at a beach in Dubai rather than allow lifeguards to stage a rescue.

The bizarre incident was reported by news website Emirates 24/7 on Sunday (Aug 9), following an interview with Lt Col Ahmed Burqibah, the deputy director of Dubai Police's Search and Rescue Department.

According to Lt Col Burqibah, the unidentified man had taken his wife and children to the beach for a picnic.

His 20-year-old daughter was swimming in the water when she started screaming for help, but two lifeguards who were nearby were prevented from rescuing her by the father.

"He told them that he prefers his daughter dead than being touched by a strange man," said Lt Col Burqibah.

"He was a tall and strong man, and started pulling and preventing the rescue men and got violent with them."

The man's daughter drowned, with Lt Col Burqibah pointing out that the delay in saving her probably cost her life.

The man was subsequently arrested by the police for barring the rescue team from doing their job.