Brit footballer Sajawal Aziz, 16, dies days after being pulled from swimming pool as family battled to bring teen home
A BRIT footballer who was found unresponsive at the bottom of a swimming pool in Sweden has tragically died.
Sajawal Aziz, 16, from Hounslow in West London, was left in a comatose state on life support after he was left to drown “for at least five minutes” – leaving his family fighting to bring the teen home.
His death was confirmed by the his local mosque Hounslow Jamia Masjid on social media through a statement that read: “Tragically brother Sajawal has now passed away.
“Sajawal, son of Tariq Aziz, was a bright 16 year old boy and a very talented football player from west London.
“We pray that Allah Almighty forgives his sins and raises his rank in the eternal abode.
“We also pray the family is granted patience at this loss and reunites the family in the Gardens of Paradise.”
Johan Josarp, an officer on duty in the region of Sweden is said to have informed the family and friends of the tragic news.
The mosque also announced Sajawal’s family have now returned to the UK.
His mum, dad and uncle all flew out to be by his bedside at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg after hearing he was in a comatose state.
Ravleen Arora, a close family friend, set up a GoFundMe to help raise the costs for Sajawal’s family.
His family and friends had spent the days since his accident lobbying to have him flown back to the UK.
An air ambulance was even said to have been on standby at the hospital waiting to fly the teen home.
The family are yet to comment on Sajawal’s death but they were described as “numb” by Ravleen in the last few days.
Ravleen, 20, whose brother Dilveer is Sajawal’s friend of 12 years, told The Sun Sajawal’s team had lost their match on Friday afternoon and went swimming to “raise their spirits” afterwards.
She claims staff at the pool allegedly told her there was “no CCTV” and “no lifeguard on duty” at the time of the tragic ordeal.
Sajawal was then “drowning for at least five minutes in the deep end”.
Ravleen said: “It’s just very strange… and it’s a mystery how no one spotted him.”
Brit teen Michael Camino – who had gone out to Sweden with a different football league – apparently pulled Sajawal from the water.
The 16-year-old’s body was said to have been stable before his death but doctors were left with no choice but to put him on life support due to his brain failing him.
The family friend said Swedish doctors wanted to pull him off life support despite the family fighting to keep his chances alive.
Earlier this week, The Sun was told that Sajawal’s mum, dad and younger sister are devastated.
Ravleen described his heartbroken mum as “kind of just numb”.
“Like when you speak to her, all she does is cry. There’s no other sort of reaction from her,” she added.
Sajawal’s dad, Tariq, has been “tireless” in his efforts to bring home their son and hasn’t slept in days as he is constantly on the phone trying to arrange help.
The teen’s younger sister, Juwariyah, is “really trying to comfort her parents and give them hope”.
“But obviously also, she knows the situation. She’s just trying to be strong for them,” Ravleen added.
The family were said to be hopeful that they would get the chance to say goodbye to the Brit back at home around his friends instead of in Sweden.
Sajawal, son of Tariq Aziz, was a bright 16 year old boy and a very talented football player from west London
Hounslow Jamia Masjid
Doctors warned that if he was flown out he would more than likely die on the journey due to his poor health – leaving the family with a tough dilemma.
The family had even tried to get a court injunction to bring him back to a hospital in the UK but they were told it would be “unethical” to fly him away.
Sajawal was playing for one of 128 English teams sent over to Sweden for this year’s Gothia Cup, which sees almost 2,000 teams from 80 nations compete.
Niklas Ehnfors, head of communications at Allingsås council, said the teenager had been spotted and pulled out of the water by Swedish players who were also in the pool, reports Metro.
He added: “In the meantime, staff were called who could establish that he was lifeless – he was not breathing and had no pulse. CPR was started, which continued until paramedics arrived at the scene.”
Spokesperson for the tournament, Malin Fahlén, said staff were “extremely concerned and saddened” by events.
He said: “Now we will try to focus all our resources to support and care in the best way.”
It is still unclear what led to the teen drowning.
Police are investigating Friday’s incident at the swimming pool, which was evacuated and closed for the weekend.
It is the second year running that a teenager has drowned in the same pool during the tournament in Sweden.
