Tragedy in Mombasa after boy dies while saving drowning child
The teenager had been playing football with friends near the beach when he noticed another boy struggling in the water.
A cloud of grief has engulfed residents of Mwandoni in Kisauni, Mombasa, following the tragic drowning of a 13-year-old boy, Hytham Salim, at Madhubaha Beach in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, May 28.
Hytham's body was recovered on Friday after an extensive search led by local divers and fishermen who combed the waters throughout the night in a desperate effort to locate him.
According to his father, Salim Islam, the teenager had been playing football with friends near the beach when he noticed another boy struggling in the water. Without hesitation, Hytham rushed into the ocean in an attempt to save the child.
While the drowning boy was eventually rescued by a bystander and rushed to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment, Hytham was overpowered by strong currents and disappeared beneath the waves.
The incident has left the community in shock, with many describing Hytham as a courageous and selfless young boy who lost his life while trying to save another.
His death has also sparked outrage among residents, who accused emergency response agencies of failing to act swiftly despite being alerted immediately after the incident. Residents who camped at the beach during the search said the Coast Guard nor Beach Management Unit (BMU) personnel arrived at the scene for the rescue operation.
The search operation was carried out almost entirely by local volunteers, fishermen, and divers, with government agencies only appearing the following day.
“Emergency response teams were contacted immediately, but they did not respond on time. The Coast Guard, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Maritime Authority were all notified shortly after the incident occurred, yet it took the efforts of local volunteers and fishermen to find the body,” said activist Alamin Somo.
Mohammed Shee Barkale, a local diver who participated in the recovery operation, urged the county government to establish a dedicated marine rescue unit in the area.
“The county government should station a rescue boat between Fort Jesus and Madhubaha Beach to respond to such situations, which unfortunately are becoming increasingly common,” he said.
As family mourn the loss of the young boy, many have hailed Hytham as a hero whose final act was one of bravery and compassion.
Inna Lillahi wa Innal Ilayhi rajiun