Sunday 22 / December / 2024
Muscat: Tyron Thomas, a 31-year-old Sri Lankan national employed on Masirah Island, was so scared of what would happen to him, his wife, and young daughter if he was infected with COVID-19 that he made a 200 km trip to Jalan Bani Bu Ali to get vaccinated.
He was travelling to the town with his public relations officer and his colleagues, when tragedy struck. Like many other vehicles, the one in which Tyron’s group was travelling also got caught in the furiously fast wadis, a result of the heavy rain lashing many parts of Oman. The Sharqiyah region, from where the group was returning, has borne the brunt of the adverse weather and flooding.
“Despite departing in a brand-new four-wheel drive, the vehicle was unable to withstand the floods,” said a well-wisher.
Spotting the vehicle trapped by the surging waters, locals who lived in the area rushed to help those inside, while a Royal Oman Police helicopter circled overhead to try and extract them to safety.
For a while, it seemed as if all would still be well: rescue personnel, at great risk to their own lives, had managed to rescue all of his colleagues… Tyron was mere inches from safety.
Before the police could get to him, however, the four-wheel drive was hurled forwards by the raging waters, taking Tyron along with it.
Although he tried his hardest to cling on to life, he succumbed to the force of the wadi, and drowned. Later, the rescue people located his body.
The passing of Tyron was also mourned by the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Oman.
"On behalf of the Sri Lankan community in Oman I extend my deepest sympathies on his tragic demise. He was on his way to get vaccinated showing his sense of social responsibility. Our thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family on his irreparable loss," said Ameer Ajwad Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman.
Efforts are now underway to repatriate his body. “On behalf of the Sri Lankan community in Oman, I extend my deepest sympathies towards his tragic demise,” said Ambassador Ameer Ajwad.
He also said, “He was on his way to get vaccinated, which showed his sense of social responsibility. Our thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family at the time of this irreparable loss.”
"Our sincere condolences to the family of Tyron and our gratitude to the departed soul for his excellent services that will be always remembered. He was an integral member of the Omran family who set an example for others at work," said Hafidh Al Hadhrami Asset Manager- Omran.
Tyron is remembered as a dedicated and sincere worker by all those who knew him. Initially employed at the Ras Al Jinz turtle reserve, he returned to his native Sri Lanka, only to be recalled by his former employers, who wanted him back in the country for his excellent performance. He was posted to the Masirah Island Resort, where he served as a front office manager.
"Tyron will be remembered for a long time. He was an asset for us. We had great future plans for him ... unfortunately we lost him very soon. His dedication and passion for the job left many of our hotel guests impressed during their stay with us. The void he has left will surely be hard to fill," said Vijay Kumar Handa Area General Manager, Omran.
Vijay Kumar Handa, Area General Manager, Omran, said, “Tyron will be remembered for a long time. He was an asset for us. We had great future plans for him...unfortunately we lost him.”
A recent guest at the resort did not shy away from explaining the lengths to which Tyron would go to make visitors to the island feel at ease.
“He would stand before a map, and point to where we were, and would then provide us a step-by-step explanation of how we needed to get to our destination,” she recalled. “We were there only about a couple of months ago, and were understandably very saddened to hear of his passing.
“He was very dedicated when it came to organising guides, transportation, and telling us which areas we needed to see,” she said. “He was the person we would go through to organise all of our trips while on the island.”
