Tragedy strikes family in Samawah as four drown in rescue attempt

MUTHANNA – A tragic drowning incident unfolded in the Al-Qadisiyah River in Samawah, Muthanna province, on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of a father, his two sons, and a relative. The tragedy began when the youngest son, 15-year-old Mahdi Hamed, accidentally fell into the river while playing along its banks. His father, Hamed Naif, 40, his older brother, Ali Hamed, 20, and a relative, Mahdi Saleh Zayadi, 16, attempted a rescue, but all four ultimately drowned.

Rescue teams managed to pull the father from the river and rushed him to the emergency room at Hussein Teaching Hospital in Samawah, where he was later pronounced dead.

The bodies of the other three were retrieved after a two-hour search operation and taken to the forensic department.

Eyewitnesses told 964media that the children were playing near the riverbanks in the Ma’ali area, located on the outskirts of Samawah, when the youngest child fell in. Despite the family’s efforts to save him, all four members drowned in the attempt.