Sharjah: A shepherd drowned on Tuesday morning after trying to wash his sponsor’s camel in the sea. The camel walked away unscathed.

Sharjah Police rescue teams recovered the Arab man’s body 200 metres from the beach after a four-hour search in Hamriyah. The 28-year-old Sudanese man worked at a farm in the area. The deceased, accompanied by two Asian assistants and his sponsor, had gone to the beach to wash the animal.

Major Khalid Ali Obaid Al Ali, Director of CID at Al Hamriyah Police Station, said the police operations room received a call saying a huge crowd was on the beach and that a man may have drowned.

When the rescue team arrived they found the man had gone into the sea while attempting to wash the camel but had lost his balance and was swept out to sea.

Coastguard patrols, helicopters and police boats along with Anjad crews helped in the search. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, his body was taken to Khalifa Hospital in Ajman.

Major Al Ali urged all farm owners to follow safety measures and abide by the law and not to put lives at risk.

