BEIRUT: A Saudi family’s holiday in Switzerland ended in tragedy when Dr. Abdullah Alanazi died after jumping into Brienz Lake trying to save his drowning 2-year-old son over the weekend.
A prominent doctor and head of the research unit at the College of Applied Medical Sciences in Riyadh, Alanazi was reported by Saudi media to have been on a family vacation when the tragedy occurred.
The family was spending a day at the Giessbach Waterfalls in Brienz Lake near the Swiss Alps.
Reportedly, Alanazi’s son Abdulaziz was said to have slipped down into the waterfalls as the family took photos. The doctor immediately jumped after his drowning son in an attempt to save him, but the two were swept away by the strong currents and disappeared in front of the eyes of Alanazi’s weeping and traumatized wife and daughter.
Swiss police and rescue teams arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and launched immediate search and rescue operations that were purported to have lasted two days until Alanazi’s body was recovered. The search for Abdulaziz’s body continues. Media reports said helicopters and boats were also used during the search operation.
The Saudi Embassy in Switzerland and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences offered condolences to Alanazi’s family.
Meanwhile, the doctor’s wife was cited in some media reports as saying that on that day, they did not intend to go out, but Alanazi insisted on going to the waterfalls, which are located 50 minutes away from where they had been residing. She was allegedly told by some people who were present there that the waterfalls were easily reachable and suitable for children.
She claimed that her husband asked her to hold their daughter’s hand while he held Abdulaziz’s hand. But while they were taking photos, their 2-year-old let go of his father’s hand suddenly, lost his balance and fell into the water.
Dr. Fares Alanazi, a professor at the Institute of Public Administration and brother of Abdullah, told Arab News that the family initially planned to stay exclusively in Austria during the trip. However, after renting a car, they decided to extend their journey to Switzerland and visit the Interlaken waterfalls.
He added that prayers were held last Saturday in Riyadh at the North Cemetery in Al-Muhaini Mosque, and expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Saudi Embassy in Switzerland, including the ambassador and all the employees.
“They all worked tirelessly and provided every possible assistance, showing exemplary cooperation and remarkable support. They stood by his wife, who was in an unthinkable position in the mountains, having witnessed the tragic loss of her family,” he said.
“The embassy promptly addressed the incident, providing a translator, and covering the costs for the hotel, car, coffin, and tickets for the wife and daughter. Our brother, Dr. Amer Alanazi, also diligently followed up on all the details.”
Amer, dean of the College of Pharmacy at King Saud University, told Arab News that the incident was a major tragedy.
He said that he was at his parents’ house when Abdullah called their mother, expressing his happiness about the trip, and saying the family were on their way to Interlaken and were in high spirits.
“On Monday evening, after the incident, I traveled directly to Switzerland,” Amer said. “An embassy official received me, and I went to Bern and then to the site. The Swiss authorities found the body two hours after the incident, identified it, and followed the routine procedures.”
Amer added that Abdullah’s wife returned two days before to identify her husband’s body. DNA samples were taken to confirm the identity. “I then accompanied the body back to Riyadh,” he said.
