Taylor Scott International News
Sharjah Police in dramatic rescue of suicidal student Afkar Abdullah / 22 September 2013 Police prevented a university student from leaping to her death from the top of a Sharjah hotel, in a dramatic rescue operation. Sharjah Police Stations Director Omar Al Suwaidi said the 22-year-old woman from Saudi Arabia, a student at Sharjah University, went into the coffee shop of the Al Aryan Hotel in Sharjah on Saturday morning, before sneaking through an emergency exit, climbing to the top of the hotel and exiting on to the helipad. The security and administration of the hotel saw the woman on the hotel’s security camera footage and called the police at 11.10am, after she rebuffed their approaches. Speaking to Khaleej Times , the manager of Al Aryan Hotel said as soon as staff saw the woman on camera they went to try to speak with her, but when she refused to respond they called police. He said the hotel made strides to protect residents and guests, and the emergency doors to the helipad were always open in case of emergency. The Anjad patrol, ambulance and Civil Defence services and psychiatrists arrived at the scene to attempt negotiations. The police negotiated with the girl for almost two hours, before convincing her to drink water, as she was becoming weak and dehydrated as a result of the high temperatures outside. Al Suwaidi said police managed to grab her back while she was drinking the water, before taking her inside and to the ground. The police took the distressed woman to Al Kuwaiti Hospital for a check-up, though doctors said she was fine and had no medical problem. She is reportedly suffering from depression. The woman was at Al Buhairah Police Station late last night, where she was being questioned over the reasons she wanted to commit suicide. Police said the reason for her actions was not yet clear and investigations were continuing. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com Taylor Scott International
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