Muscat: Drowning cases among children in Oman continue despite warnings and campaigns from the authorities that advise parents to take care of their children when they go into the sea or wadis.

The latest incident took place on Sunday when Ahmad, a 12-year-old resident of Mussanah, drowned after he went swimming in the sea with his friend near his village on Sunday.

Ahmad was found dead when he was recovered by Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) staff. The friend who was recovered with him was alive and in a stable condition.

Gulf News couldn’t reach the family for further comments about the incident.

This is the first case of a child drowning in 2015 so far, a Royal Oman Police official said.

The last case took place last September when three children, all brothers, drowned in Saham province during a trip to the beach.

‘Not recovered from trauma’

Gulf News contacted Mohammad Al Beloushi, the children’s uncle, who said the family had made a mistake by letting Hashim, Jasem and Hassam go swimming.

“We have still not recovered from the trauma, as their images are engraved in our minds.”

He called on parents not to let their children go swimming alone.

Seven children drowned in 2014 alone, according to ROP figures.

In total, 14 people drowned in Oman in 2014.

The ROP official affirmed that most drowning cases among children are due to their parents’ negligence.

“Many leave their children swimming in wadis and the sea without looking after them or asking them to wear life jackets”, he said.

The official said that children drowning in summer is more common as many people go out to wadis and the sea to beat the heat.

The sea sometimes is rough in the summer, as the currents can drag anyone inside, he added.

The average drowning rate among children aged one to four years in Oman is 1.4 per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO warned that drowning rates among children is the highest.

Omani hospitals received at least 30 drowning patients in 2014, says an official at the Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, observers see that the lack of swimming pools at houses and other places is adding to the problem.

“Finding swimming pools in social clubs could result in a drop in the drowning cases”, says Jamal Al Beloushi, an Omani swimmer.

He rescued his brother five years ago when was dragged by currents while swimming at Al Athaiba beach in the capital.

He later launched a campaign along with his friends to educate parents about the need to be very cautious and close by when taking their children to the sea and wadis.

Another parent, Naseeb Al Rubhki, told Gulf News, that when he takes his children swimming once a month, he supervises them closely and they wear life jackets.

“I don’t want to lose them as I don’t want to feel guilty all of my life, so I take all the safety measures to ensure their safety while going swimming.”