Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Last Saturday, Muharram 8, was a day of tragedy for Jeddawis as one prominent physician and a distinguished academic lost their life during their attempt to save others from drowning.

Hours after the departure of Dr. Afaf Felimban in the Jeddah sea, a Saudi academic died while trying to save his son from drowning. Both met with tragic end while they were on a vacation trip to Jeddah during the weekend.

Dr. Hussein Muhammad Al-Habashi, assistant professor of Jurisprudence in the Judicial Studies Department at Umm Al-Qura University of Makkah, reached Jeddah Corniche along with his family. When he saw his son battling for life while swimming, he jumped into sea to save him. Though Al-Habashi succeeded in saving his son from drowning, he failed to get out of water as he was swept away by huge waves to the depths of the sea.

Dr. Afaf Felimban, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, and her colleague Lina Taha also drowned in Jeddah Corniche on Saturday in the midst of their attempt to rescue two girls from drowning when they saw the girls battling for life as huge waves almost overwhelm them.

Dr. Afaf arrived in Jeddah last Thursday on her weekend to visit the family members. A large number of near and dear attended janaza prayer for her and flocked to the cemetery for her funeral and offered condolences on her tragic departure.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Judicial Studies and Regulations at Umm Al-Qura University, where Dr. Al-Habashi he was working, mourned the demise of Dr. Al-Habashi. In a press statement, the faculty said: “The Faculty of Judicial Studies and Regulations extends its condolences and sympathy on the death of Dr. Hussein bin Muhammad Al-Habashi.”

The statement noted that Dr. Al-Habashi joined the faculty as an academic in 1441 AH after obtaining doctorate in 1438 in the field of jurisprudence from Umm Al-Qura University. He was known for his education, good rapport with his students, dedication and altruism in his work. Janaza prayers were offered for him at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and his body was buried in Al-Shuhadaa Cemetery in Al-Sharaie.

One of the students of Dr. Al-Habashi mourned him, saying: “May God have mercy on Dr. Hussein Al-Habashi, who was my teacher at King Khalid Intermediate School 13 years ago. I recall his exemplary conduct, brilliant career record, and his beneficial knowledge that I have never forgotten even after the passage of these years.”