Three Saudis drown at Karachi beach

The bodies of the three Saudi nationals who drowned in a beach off the coast of Karachi in Pakistan on Saturday have been repatriated to the kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.

The Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed al-Maliki confirmed that those dead include two employees of the consulate – Alaa bin Attiya al-Qathami and Abdullah bin Faleh al-Subaie as well as the son of the Saudi vice-consul general Fahad Fihan Al-Osaimi.

The men drowned as they were swimming during a cruise at Karachi’s Hawksbay Beach – a popular tourist hotspot.

According to local media reports, the men were pulled into the sea due to rough waters and strong waves, and a rescue effort lasted for two hours. While one of them was reportedly unconscious when he was recovered, he passed away at a hospital later.

The Saudi embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Karachi have taken all necessary measures after communicating with their first of kin at home to transfer their bodies to the kingdom, said al-Maliki.

The ambassador expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.