Saudi parents shocked as son dies during final exams

Saudi student Mu’ath Muslim Salloum al-Awfi fell unconscious inside his class at Qais bin Saad Al Ansari high school in Medina.

According to reports Al Arabiya received from the city of Medina, Mu’ath died of natural causes.

Nasser Abdul Karim, head of the Public administration for education in Madina. paid condolences to the student’s family, and performed prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque before the burial in Buqaiq al-Ghardaq.

Education officials have also offered their condolences to the parents and students.

Mu’ath’s father, who was in mourning, told Al Arabiya that his son did not suffer from any disease, and that the last thing he did when he left home was ask his mother to pray for him.

Mu’ath was loved by his community. He was fond of cars and collected their pictures, dreamed of success and excellence like other young people, but infortunately he met his end suddenly.

The school principal, Mahal al-Awfi, spoke to Al-Arabiya saying that “The student Mu’ath was in good health and did not suffer from any disease, but he felt tired during the test of the Arabic language, the last test for the first semester,” adding that he excelled in his studies and achieved high grades, 90 percent, during the last three years of high school.

“He complained that he felt tired and when he fainted we called the paramedics. He asked to go back and finish his exam but we told him he will be re-assessed in the following semester. As we arranged for him to return home and during his transfer by car he fainted again so he was taken to the nearest hospital, where he died as soon as he arrived,” said the principle.

He added that the school staff, relatives and parents were present in the hospital and their statements were taken by the security authorities, as is customary in such cases.

The school principal concluded his statement saying that Mu’ath's sudden death led to a state of sadness and grief throughout the school, because he was known for his merit and good character.