Saudi Cultural Attache to the United States Dr. Mohammed al-Issa eulogized the Saudi students who drowned while trying to save children in distress in the US state of Massachusetts.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Theeb al-Yami and Jaser al-Rakah “symbolize the spirit of loyalty” and sacrifice.
They epitomized what distinguishes Saudi students in the US through their goodwill and selflessness, he added, while noting that one of them was just about to graduate.
Yami and Rakah drowned on Sunday while attempting to save two American children in the Chicopee River. The children were saved, but the students were caught by the current and drowned.
Both were majoring in civil engineering, with Rakah attending the Western New England University in Springfield and Yami attending the University of Hartford.
The bodies of the students will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Saturday where they will be laid to rest.
The drowning incident drew a major outpouring of support in the US with the story making the news and the universities where the students had studied offering their condolences to their families and friends.
The US State Department also offered its condolences on Thursday, saying: “Their heroism represents the very best of the international students who enrich communities across the United States.”
“Theeb and Jaser were among the 52,000 Saudi students studying in the United States who bring greater international understanding and diverse perspectives to US campuses and communities, and to Saudi Arabia when they return home,” it stressed.
