US couple ‘walked for hours’ before dying in Hajj heat
A US couple perished during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia after walking for more than two hours in extreme heat, succumbing to heat stroke, as their daughter informed the BBC.
Alhaji Alieu Dausy Wurie, 71, and Haja Isatu Wurie, 65, residents of Bowie, Maryland, were among approximately 1,300 individuals who lost their lives during the annual pilgrimage. Temperatures soared above 122F (50C) during this year’s gathering.
According to Saida Wurie, her parents’ tour group failed to fulfill many of its commitments, such as providing sufficient food and water. The couple, originally from Sierra Leone, disappeared on June 16th, two weeks after their arrival in Saudi Arabia. Days later, their daughter received the tragic news of their passing.
Describing the pilgrimage as immensely significant to her parents, who each paid $11,500 (£9,000) to participate, Ms. Wurie emphasized that they had eagerly awaited this journey for their entire lives. The couple traveled with a group of nearly 100 other pilgrims organized by an American tour company based in Maryland.
Ms. Wurie disclosed that her parents had faced considerable challenges during the pilgrimage, including shortages of promised supplies. Despite the scorching conditions, they persevered, attempting to stay hydrated and take each day as it came.
The BBC has contacted the company for comment.
In their last text exchange – after several missed calls – Ms Wurie said that her parents told them that they had been “walking for over two hours”.
Soon after, consular officials and a member of the same tour group confirmed that the couple had died.
With the help of consular officials, Ms Wurie was able to determine which cemetery her parents had been buried in, although they have not yet pinpointed the location within the burial ground.
“They don’t have their personal effects,” she said. “It’s a lot of questions, and we need to find some answers.”
Ms Wurie said she plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to find where her parents were interred.
She also told the BBC that the tour company had said it would provide the proper visas and registration for the trip, but failed to do so.
According to the official Saudi news agency SPA, most of the Mecca pilgrims did not have official permits. The process of obtaining official Hajj permits can be costly or complicated, however.
The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage by Muslim people to the holy city of Mecca. Those who are financially and physically able to complete the journey are expected to do so at least once in their lifetime.
Saudi Arabia said about 1.8 million people took part in this year’s pilgrimage.
The country’s Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel said officials recently began making efforts to raise awareness of heat stress.
Saudi Arabia has recently come under criticism for not making the Hajj safer, particularly for unregistered pilgrims.
Those without proper permits struggle to access spaces that provide air conditioning and other resources for official travellers.
