Egyptian teenager dies after rescuing six people from rough seas off Alexandria

An 18-year-old Egyptian died after saving six people from drowning off the coast of Alexandria, in an incident that turned a successful rescue into a tragedy. Ziad Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud was swept out to sea by strong waves as he tried to return to shore himself.

According to local authorities, Ziad saw several people struggling in the water at Bitash Beach in the city's Agami district after powerful waves carried them away from the shoreline. He entered the sea and brought all six safely back to land. On his way back, however, he was overpowered by the waves and pulled out to sea.

Search, recovery and investigation

Emergency services and rescue teams were sent to the scene after the incident was reported. Following a search operation, Ziad's body was recovered and taken to the morgue. Prosecutors opened an investigation into the circumstances. Arab News reported that the drowning took place on Saturday and that the tourism authority issued its statement the following day, with the body held pending legal procedures.

Arab News also said that initial accounts described Ziad as a local cafe worker who rushed to help lifeguards bring the six people to safety. That detail differs slightly from the account given by the authorities, which does not mention lifeguards.

Authority pays tribute and issues warning

Alexandria's Central Administration of Tourism and Resorts paid tribute to the teenager, noting that he came from the Dekheila area. It said the incident occurred at a closed beach that is not designated for public swimming because of dangerous sea conditions.

The administration renewed its warning against entering closed or unapproved beaches, especially when seas are rough and currents are strong. It also urged the public not to attempt water rescues without proper training or equipment, cautioning that efforts to save others can quickly put the rescuer's own life at risk.

Beaches in Alexandria are marked with a three-colour flag system:

• red means swimming is prohibited,
• yellow means swimming is allowed only with caution and in line with lifeguard instructions,
• and green signals stable conditions.

Ayman Taher, an Alexandria-based lifeguard instructor quoted by Arab News, said some of the city's beaches are unsuitable for swimming because of their seabed conditions and strong currents. Red flags are flown where swimming is banned, he noted, while dedicated rescue teams are stationed at designated swimming areas.

The stretch of coast has seen similar tragedies before. In an earlier incident reported by Egypt Independent, six young women from Sohag drowned and 24 others were injured at Abu Talat Beach in Alexandria after waves swept them away. Red flags were then raised on all beaches in the Western and Agamy sectors, and the Public Prosecution opened an investigation.

A young man's ambitions

Ziad's father said his son had dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and had once been accepted into El Sekka El Hadid Sporting Club, but financial circumstances kept him from pursuing the opportunity.

He said Ziad admired Mohamed Salah for his path from humble beginnings to international success. Salah was born into a modest family in the Nile Delta village of Nagrig, in Gharbia governorate, and joined the Al Mokawloon academy in Cairo at 14. In 2017 he founded the Nagrig Charity Association to support his home village.

Ziad also looked up to renowned Egyptian heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub for his humanitarian work. Yacoub's Aswan Heart Centre, which began operating in 2009, provides cardiac care free of charge to all patients regardless of colour, religion or gender, with a particular focus on children.

Wider context

Drowning is a significant cause of death among young people in the region. The World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean office says about 300,000 people died from drowning worldwide in 2021, 12 per cent of them (35,000) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which has the second-highest drowning death rate of any WHO region. Children and young people up to age 29 account for 83 per cent of the region's drowning deaths, and the male rate is at least twice the female rate.

A study of injury-related deaths in Alexandria between 2000 and 2010 found that drowning accounted for 12.2 per cent of such deaths, second only to road traffic accidents at 48.9 per cent, and that drowning deaths peaked in summer, the city's season of water recreation.

All six people Ziad rescued survived. His death has left a story of selflessness that has drawn widespread admiration across Egypt.