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A local police officer has been hailed as a hero after a social media post detailing how he saved a child’s life went viral.
The post was written by the child’s mother, Fathimath Shifna Mohamed, on her personal Facebook page, narrating how she and her child, who had suffered a seizure attack, were stuck in traffic en route to the hospital last Tuesday afternoon.
The frantic mother had got out of the taxi to find a way to clear a path, but it proved a vain effort during the 5 p.m. rush on capital Male’s main road. Running out of options and hope, Shifna recalled how, back inside the taxi, she had cried and pleaded with people around to help take her child to the hospital.
The answer to her pleas came abruptly. Shifna recounted how, to her surprise and everlasting gratitude, the door of the taxi was abruptly wrenched open and a man had pulled her child into his arms before taking off towards ADK Hospital at a run.
The man who would soon be hailed as a hero by the public was Lance Corporal Mohamed Rifaau, who had been on traffic duty at the time.
Lance Corporal Mohamed Rifau.
“He’s the one who saved my child’s life,” said Shifna on Wednesday, who had written in her Facebook post that the then unknown police officer had rushed all the way from the National Football Stadium in Majeedhee Magu to ADK Hospital’s emergency centre, carrying her child.
“Had it not been for him, my child’s life would have been in danger. While stuck in the taxi, I even thought this would be the last time. I begged for help from everyone around me, but no one cared.
“What the officer did yesterday was a prime example of humanity.”
Mohamed Rifaau had left afterwards, and Shifna had shared her emotional account on social media in a bid to discover his identity, wishing to thank him in person.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she wrote in local Dhivehi language. “I’ll never forget what you did, and I would recognize you if I saw you again.” Praising him for living up to Maldives Police Service’s true duties to the public, she asked for the public’s help to find him again.
The local community responded with enthusiasm. Within hours, a number of people turned up in the comments of her post, sharing pictures of Rifaau and his name. Many have saluted Rifaau for his compassion, hailing him as a true police officer.
Rifaau’s actions have also been celebrated by Maldives Police Service. Acting Commissioner of Police Abdulla Nawaz met with the Lance Corporal on Wednesday afternoon and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.
Source URL: Mihaaru.mv
