by Armstrong Vas
Doha: Qatari powerboat racer Rashid Abdullah Al Mansoori, who died in an accident while taking part in a Pleasure Boat race at the Katara Cultural Village Beach on Saturday, was buried in Abu Humour graveyard, officials of Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) said yesterday.
A large number of friends, well-wishers, family members and officials of QMSF were present to bid a tearful farewell to the 34-year-old.
Al Mansoori and co-driver Hamad Jassim Al Mutawa were competing in the Pro Class 1 race, organised by QMSF, when the tragedy struck.
The powerboat driver died and his co-driver suffered injuries after their vessel flipped over while negotiating a curve at one of the buoys.
Although rescue personnel were at hand, their efforts failed to revive him. The racer was later taken to the Emergency Unit of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), where he was pronounced dead.
This is the first time a Qatari has been killed in a sports-related accident in the country and officials of QMSF said they were taking stock of the accident.
“Many accidents have taken place in the past during QMSF events, but this is the first time a tragedy has happened. It was really a sad and tragic day for us.
“There was a big wave at buoy No. 3, combined with the high speed wind, the boat flipped into the air.
“A Coast Guard rescue team and Red Crescent doctors tried their best to revive Mansouri,” said Khalid bin Arhama Al Kuwari, Head of Formula racing at the QMSF.
Meanwhile, QMSF President Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, who also competes in powerboat racing and is in the US as part of his training programme to take part in a US powerboat racing event, has cut short his training programme and is expected to be back soon, said Al Kuwari.
“Sheikh Hassan is pained and shocked by the tragic accident. He is flying back to Qatar and he has cancelled all his engagements in the US,” informed the QMSF official.
Al Kuwari described the deceased as a soft-spoken person and a dedicated sports person.
“He had been competing since 2004, and he was a man of few words and deeply religious too. It is a great loss not only for sports but for entire Qatar,” he said.
“Although we (at QMSF) were present for the burial, we will be meeting members of Al Mansoori’s family to express our condolences and grief over the unfortunate accident and how best the QMSF family can be of help to the grieving family in their most testing time.”
Asked whether the QMSF had any compensation or other thing on their mind, Al Kuwari said the QMSF board members will meet shortly to discuss the situation.
“We are waiting for the arrival of Sheikh Hassan and then we will have a board meeting.
“We have cancelled all competitions until further notice,” he disclosed.
Al Mansoori is survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter.
Meanwhile, the police took charge of the ill-fated powerboat from the QMSF garage yesterday morning, as part of their investigation.
The Peninsula
