Fact: Fuad was a hero

He still is a hero to many, but this story is about his youth.

Fuad once worked as a “beach boy” in the tourist beaches of Mombasa. He taught scuba diving, snorkelling, how to ride a fast jet ski, water skiing and went deep sea fishing every weekend. But the most interesting aspect of is relationship with the ocean was when he jumped in to try and save a amily whose car had dropped from a cliff into the sea in a popular spot in town called ‘Light House’.

Of the hundreds of people out on that day only Fuad braved the rough waves. He was found unconscious hours later when the water had subsidised holding on to a baby whose life he saved. Fuad become a local hero and for some time enjoyed walking around town with his arm in a sling with people coming up to him and congratulating him.

The boy, from a Hindu background, grew up close to Fuad and is now a leading GP somewhere in Britain. The spot where Fuad jumped in is not marked but many Mombasa residents will eagerly point the place if you asked them.

We have a picture of Fuad taken around the time, but had declined to publish it as we are awkward like that.