175 volunteers join diving course to form rescue team in Hit, Anbar

ANBAR – A group of 175 young men from Hit have enrolled in a diving course led by Captain Siraj Al-Karbouli, head of the Al-Qaim Divers Team. The eight-day course aims to select 11 participants to form a specialised rescue team for the city, following a rise in drowning incidents in the Euphrates River.

Hit, located along the Euphrates in Iraq’s Anbar governorate, has seen a growing number of drowning cases. Local authorities and residents decided to form a diving team to tackle the issue.

“I came to Hit twice to recover drowning victims from the Euphrates. After more incidents occurred, the local government and youth asked for a dedicated team, and I agreed,” Captain Al-Karbouli told 964media.

Announcing the course on social media, 175 volunteers signed up, undergoing 10 tests. From this, 11 will be selected. Training started at the Hit Model Swimming Pool and later moved to the Euphrates for practical exercises.

“The divers must have strong swimming skills, good fitness, be free from chronic illnesses, and have parental approval,” Atl-Karbouli explained. Participants are taught underwater breathing techniques and trained in rescue swimming, recovering victims, and conducting underwater searches, the most challenging part of the course.

“I’m confident the graduates will be fully prepared to serve the city,” al-Karbouli said, adding that badges and certificates of participation will be awarded to all participants.

Al-Karbouli, who began diving in 2018, has since conducted 48 recovery operations and two rescues across Iraq, including Hit, Baghdad, Fallujah, and Samarra.

Captain Ahmad Farooq, the leader of the Hit Divers Team, joined to help his city. “We’ve seen several drownings in the Euphrates, and without specialised teams, it’s been a challenge. I wanted to learn diving to save lives,” he told 964media.

Local resident Atheer Majeed highlighted the need for more resources, including river police, to support the team’s efforts. “A specialised team alongside river police will greatly improve the ability to respond to emergencies and keep the community safe,” he said.