Indian Expat Dies After Cardiac Arrest Following Badminton Match
A 52-year-old Indian expatriate died following a sudden cardiac arrest after a badminton match in Dubai.
A 52-year-old Indian expatriate lost his life following a sudden cardiac arrest after a routine badminton session in Dubai on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Ranjith Vijayan, a resident of Ras Al Khor, was playing at a school facility in Dubailand during a weekend match between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Despite the rapid response of emergency services and colleagues, the veteran professional could not be revived.
Details of the Incident
According to Santhosh Kumar Parayil, the general manager for HR and administration at Vijayan's company, the deceased reported experiencing breathing difficulties immediately after the game concluded.
Immediate life-saving measures were attempted, including:
- CPR administration by a trained colleague and school security personnel.
- Rapid ambulance arrival within five minutes of the emergency call.
Tragically, Vijayan was declared dead upon arrival at a private hospital.
A Fit Professional with No Known History
Vijayan was a long-standing member of his professional community, having served as the general manager for logistics and supply chain at a Dubai-based engineering and industrial solutions firm for 26 years. Colleagues noted that he was a fitness enthusiast who maintained a regular gym routine and had no known history of heart disease.
He is survived by his wife, Rashmi, who resides in the UAE, and his son, Rithvik, who is currently pursuing higher education in India. The company is currently providing assistance to the family to facilitate the repatriation of Vijayan's remains to Kerala.
A Concerning Trend in 2026
This tragedy marks the third instance in 2026 where an Indian expatriate has died due to sports-related cardiac issues in the UAE:
- June 14, 2026: 38-year-old Safwan Shanu from Karnataka died of a heart attack while playing cricket in Al Garhoud.
- June 17, 2026: 43-year-old Anwar Sadiq, a procurement manager from Kerala, died of cardiac arrest following a badminton session in Sharjah.
Medical Insights on Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Medical experts suggest that such sudden events during physical exertion can often be triggered by undiagnosed conditions. These may include hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy or underlying coronary issues that remain undetected during routine activity.