A string of sudden cardiac collapses during amateur sport in Dubai has pushed a growing number of residents to sign up for CPR training, hoping to be ready if a teammate or friend goes down on the field.
Among the cases that have shaken Dubai's sporting community is that of Mohammed Safwan Shanu, 38, who collapsed during a cricket match in June 2026 and died despite CPR being administered at the scene. In a separate incident, Anwar Sadiq, 42, suffered a heart attack while playing badminton.
Crisanto Rey, a 40-year-old Filipino resident, trained in CPR 15 years ago after losing a friend, and in 2019 that training paid off when he successfully resuscitated a fellow cricket player who had collapsed mid-match. Habshan Hassan, who lives in Al Qusais, learned CPR and has since used it once during a game. Others, including a resident named Salid K, say they are now planning to enrol in CPR courses alongside friends after hearing about the recent cases.
Dr Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, a cardiologist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital, said early intervention makes all the difference: "Early CPR and defibrillation can be critical to maintain blood flow to the brain during these crucial minutes while waiting for emergency medical help to arrive."
The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services runs the American Heart Association's Heartsaver course for the public, while the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority offers its own CPR, first-aid and AED training programmes open to residents. Health officials are encouraging people who regularly take part in group sports to consider learning these life-saving skills, noting that bystander action in the first few minutes after a collapse can be decisive before paramedics arrive.