A security guard is fighting for his life and has had to have his leg amputated after a car ploughed into him while he was on duty at a gated community in Dubai.
Father-of-two Dhamar Raj was at the guardhouse in Meadows Eight when a Mercedes approached the gate to leave the complex.
According to eyewitnesses the driver did not slow down and smashed into the 36-year-old, pinning him against an air conditioning unit attached to the small hut.
It is believed the Iranian driver, who is thought to live in Meadows Eight, had been drinking at the time of the accident on Tuesday evening.
Human Resources manager at security firm Emrill, Derrick Mathias, told 7DAYS: “The driver banged straight into him at full speed. Lots of the residents saw what happened and went to help Dhamar and we would like to thank them.
He is a very good guard and popular with the residents.”
Raj, who is Nepalese, is under sedation at Rashid Hospital and is unaware his left leg has been amputated as a result of the accident.
His doctor told 7DAYS: “He had lost a lot of blood, maybe as many as 70 units.
We had to amputate his leg and he has not been conscious since. We don’t know when he will come off sedation.”
Mathias said Raj’s 86-year-old father had a heart attack when he was told his son had been in an accident.
He is recovering in Nepal.
Emrill is determined to fight for compensation for Raj, who came to the UAE two years ago. Mathias said the driver and his passenger, from Bahrain, were both arrested and are being held by police.
He said: “We have been told the driver was drunk and eye witnesses saw him try to swap places with his passenger but they told police and both were arrested.
They are behind bars and will be there until Dhamar is conscious and can talk to police.”
He added: “I am working with our lawyers and we want Dhamar to get compensation for what happened. He was doing his duty and did not deserve this. He has a family to support at home.”
Val Burrell, who lives in Springs Four, next to the accident site, said residents were left reeling after the incident and were keen to offer their support. “It is absolutely terrible,” she said.
“He’s a good man and this should not have happened. We would like to do something to help and raise some money for him.”
nichola.jones@7days.ae
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To find out about fundraising for Dhamar Raj, email Val Burrell at valburrell@mailme.ae