Freediving, a technique that involves diving deep into the ocean without scuba equipment, has traces back to the ancient tradition of pearl diving. One of the UAE’s top freediving experts, Zarir Saifuddin, recently had a near-death experience while on a risky diving trip where he nearly drowned. Fortunately, the timely intervention of a Dubai royal helped save his life. Zarir was rescued by the royal family member’s personal doctor and medical team on Moon Island, located 70 km off the Dubai coast.
Eyewitnesses reported that Zarir lost consciousness and was in a semi-conscious state with water filling his lungs during the diving trip. The quick response of the royal medical team, along with the Dubai Police, who airlifted Zarir via helicopter, played a crucial role in saving his life. Zarir expressed his gratitude to the royal family, Dubai Police, security personnel, friends, and medical staff at Rashid Hospital for their care and swift action. He noted that the response time of the Dubai Police was incredible, reaching him offshore in minutes.
The medical team that treated Zarir emphasized the riskiness of his dive, as he had water in his lungs impacting his breathing after diving to significant depths. Almir Smajlovic, a Specialist of Respiratory Care at Rashid Hospital and a fellow freediver, mentioned that diving to depths below 40 meters is a challenging feat, and Zarir’s expertise was evident. Almir witnessed a video of the incident and explained that it occurred during a three-minute breathhold at 32 meters while retrieving fish from an underwater cave.
Although Zarir was discharged from the hospital shortly after the incident, he continued to experience chest pain for several weeks. Almir explained that it would take some time for the fluids to drain from Zarir’s lungs and for damaged air sacs to heal, allowing him to breathe without pain. The risks associated with deep freediving were highlighted through Zarir’s ordeal, despite his expertise in the sport. Freediving remains a thrilling yet dangerous activity that requires careful training and preparation to avoid life-threatening situations.
