Man whose daughter drowned in sea 'stopped lifeguards from saving her because he didn't want her touched by strange men'

The father of a 20-year-old woman who drowned in a Dubai sea reportedly stopped lifeguards from saving her because he did not want her to be touched and dishonoured by strange men.

The unnamed Asian man allegedly preferred to let his daughter die than have her 'dishonoured' by rescuers, according to police. Lt Col Ahmed Burqibah, Deputy Director of Dubai Police’s Search and Rescue Department, said the girl got into difficulty on a beach in the city.

He said: 'This is one of the incidents which I cannot forget. 

'It shocked me and many others who were involved in the case.

'The Asian father took his wife and kids to the beach for picnic and fun.

'The kids were swimming in the beach when suddenly, the 20-year-old girl started drowning and screaming for help.'

Lifeguards tried to rush into the water to help her, but the father became aggressive and pulled them away, Lt Col Burqibah told Emirates24/7.

He added: 'There was one obstacle which prevented them from reaching the girl... the belief of this Asian man who considered that if these men touched his daughter, this would dishonour her. 

'He told them that he prefers his daughter being dead than being touched by a strange man.'

The father was later 'prosecuted and sued' for preventing the rescue teams from saving his daughter's life, he said.