One prominent physician and a distinguished academic lost their lives during an attempt to save others from drowning last Saturday, Muharram 8.

After Dr. Afaf Felimban's departure, a Saudi academic drowned while trying to save his son from drowning in the Jeddah sea. During a weekend vacation to Jeddah, both met a tragic end.

Hussein Muhammad Al-Habashi, assistant professor of Jurisprudence at Umm Al-Qura University of Makkah, reached Jeddah Corniche with his family. In order to save his son, he jumped into the sea when he saw him fighting for his life while swimming. Despite saving his son from drowning, Al-Habashi failed to escape the water as he was swept away by huge waves to the depths of the ocean.

As part of their attempt to rescue two girls from drowning, Dr. Afaf Felimban, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, and her colleague Lina Taha drowned in the Jeddah Corniche on Saturday after they saw the girls battling for their lives as huge waves almost overwhelmed them.

Last Thursday, Dr. Afaf visited her family members in Jeddah on her weekend. The janaza prayer for her was attended by many close family and friends, and they flocked to the cemetery for her funeral.

The Faculty of Judicial Studies and Regulations at Umm Al-Qura University, where Dr. Al-Habashi worked, mourned his passing. "The Faculty of Judicial Studies and Regulations extends its condolences and sympathy on the passing of Dr. Hussein bin Muhammad Al-Habashi," the faculty said in a press statement.

According to the statement, Dr. Al-Habashi joined the faculty in 1441 AH after obtaining his doctorate in jurisprudence from Umm Al-Qura University in 1438. He was known for his education, good rapport with his students, dedication, and altruism. His body was buried in Al-Shuhadaa Cemetery in Al-Sharaie after Janaza prayers were offered for him at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

One of Dr. Al-Habashi's students mourned him, saying: "May God have mercy on Dr. Hussein Al-Habashi, who was my teacher 13 years ago at King Khalid Intermediate School." Even after these many years, I have never forgotten his exemplary conduct, brilliant career record, and beneficial knowledge.