Stranger’s Swift Action Saves Five-Year-Old from Drowning at Dubai Pool

Dubai: On a Friday evening around 5 PM, Prashant Shekhar received a call that no parent ever wants to hear. His five-year-old son, Kian, had been pulled unconscious from a community swimming pool. The urgency of the situation was palpable, as Shekhar recalled the chaos in the background of the call from his nanny.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Shekhar learned that Kian had been revived by a bystander who performed CPR. “I slowly started piecing the details together of what had happened at the pool,” he said. The nanny informed him that a man had jumped into the pool, pulled Kian out, and administered life-saving CPR until he began to cough up water. “The doctors told me afterwards that a few moments longer could have meant the unthinkable or lasting brain damage from the lack of oxygen,” Shekhar added.

Later that night, Shekhar met Michael Collings, the man who had saved his son. Collings and his wife had come to the hospital to check on Kian and his family. Shekhar and the nanny were the only ones with Kian at the hospital, as Shekhar’s wife was out of the country for work. When Collings approached Shekhar and identified himself as Kian’s rescuer, the two men shared what Collings described as “the biggest, longest hug.”

Just a Regular Friday

Michael Collings, a British expat working in real estate, had received CPR training in 2015 while working as a personal trainer. Ironically, he had almost skipped the pool visit that day. His four-year-old son, Laith, had insisted on practicing swimming in the larger pool after making progress in his lessons. “My wife had told him he could only go to the big pool unless Baba came with him,” Collings explained.

Once at the pool, Collings kept a watchful eye on Laith, standing about three meters away. Approximately 15 minutes into their visit, he heard a young girl alert someone nearby, saying, “there’s a kid on the bottom of the floor.” Collings turned to investigate and saw a boy floating underwater. Instinct took over; he jumped in, swam to the boy, and held him while performing chest compressions.

Once out of the water, Collings checked for a heartbeat but found none. “He was lifeless. His eyes were open, his lips were blue,” he recalled. He immediately began administering CPR, alternating between chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After about 30 seconds, he felt a heartbeat and continued until Kian began to breathe, albeit erratically. Once Kian coughed up water and began to cry, Collings felt an immense sense of relief. “I’ve never felt that good hearing a child cry,” he stated.

The Hug That Said Everything

While Collings was performing CPR, bystanders called for an ambulance, which arrived within ten minutes. As paramedics transported Kian to the ambulance, Collings felt overwhelmed. “As a father, that’s the scariest thing that can happen,” he said. After the incident, he spoke to Laith about the importance of safety around pools, emphasizing that he should not swim in the big pool without supervision.

Collings later reflected on the emotional toll of the experience. “I just broke down; it was all too much. Even when I was giving him CPR, I was constantly telling him, ‘Please mate, this is not your time,’ because I am a father too,” he shared. When he met Shekhar at the hospital, the two fathers embraced, understanding the gravity of the situation they had both faced.

Unsung Heroes

For Shekhar, the incident remains a source of deep emotion. He expressed gratitude not only for Collings but also for all those who acted swiftly. “My wife and I saw the CCTV footage later and we could see just how quickly Michael reacted. He didn’t think about it for even a second,” Shekhar noted. He emphasized that many people hesitate in emergencies, but Collings acted as a father would.

The ‘Good Samaritan Law’

Legal protections exist in the UAE for individuals who provide assistance in emergencies. According to Suneer Kumar, a partner at Al Suwaidi and Company LLC, the UAE’s laws safeguard those who act in good faith during critical situations. Article 55 of Federal Law by Decree No. (31) of 2021 states that there is no crime in any act performed in good faith that may cause damage while providing assistance to save a life.

The Girl No One Knows

Collings has expressed a desire to find the young girl who initially alerted others about Kian. “We’ve tried everything—posted in community groups and asked around. Nobody knows who she was,” he said. He described her as having a long plaited ponytail and believes she deserves recognition for her crucial role in the rescue. “That’s how I remember the story. This little girl alerting people around her—that’s what helped save the boy,” he stated.

Source: www.emirates247.com

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Published on 2026-06-25 16:03:00 • By the Editorial Desk