Four Pakistani workers who suffered severe burns in a devastating factory fire in Ajman are preparing to return home after receiving critical treatment in Abu Dhabi.
The men—Gul Dad Dahri, Imam Bux Solangi, Nawab Shahnawaz, and Muhammad Akram Khan—were transferred to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in induced comas due to the extent of their injuries.
The incident, which occurred at a chemical products plant in February, left nine Pakistani workers injured. Initially admitted to local hospitals, the four men were later moved to Abu Dhabi for specialized care.
Their recovery journey has involved a series of complex operations and months of intensive rehabilitation.
Mr. Solangi, 39, who suffered burns on 90% of his body, is eager to reunite with his family but also hopes to return to work in the UAE to support them financially. “I am excited to go home to see my family, but I want to come back to work in the UAE,” he said.
Mr. Dahri, also 39 and a father of two, was inspecting sanitizer bottles when the fire broke out. He sustained burns on 63% of his body and remains in a wheelchair. “I tried to run away but the flames reached me,” he recalled.
Dr. Simon Myers, a plastic surgery professor at the hospital and acting chair of its burns division, explained the initial critical procedures. The patients underwent six-hour operations to remove the burns, followed by skin grafts and synthetic skin applications. He praised the dedication and expertise of the medical team, stating, “The survival of these patients was a result of the hard work of a large team in a state-of-the-art facility, with access to modern skin replacement technologies.”
Zaskia Ezendam, a senior occupational therapist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, emphasized the importance of intense physiotherapy in the recovery process. “Once the doctors have done most of the surgery, the big job for us is to try and get them to move as much as possible,” she said.
Three of the four patients are now walking independently, though the journey to full recovery continues. “The hard work for the patients also starts now,” added Ms. Ezendam, highlighting the ongoing need for physical therapy and support.
