Indian expat engineer Hariraj Sudevan, 37, died of a heart attack in Abu Dhabi. EXPAT MEDIA/SUPPLIED

The Indian expat community in the UAE is mourning the sudden death of engineer Hariraj Sudevan, 37, who died in Abu Dhabi just hours after sending off to his wife and son at the airport. Sudevan, a subsea pipeline installation engineer with 12 years of experience in the UAE, had dropped off his family at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Sunday evening. His wife, a doctor, and their 10-year-old son were returning to their hometown in Kerala. They visit him in the UAE every six months. After dropping them off, Sudevan joined friends for a birthday celebration, where he appeared in good spirits. Returning to his apartment later, he even had a video call with his wife and son after they arrived safely in India. But later that night, at around 11:40pm, Sudevan reportedly began to feel unwell and short of breath. Friends called for an ambulance. Sudevan suffered a heart attack and paramedics performed CPR and attempted resuscitation for nearly 30 minutes, but he could not be revived. His funeral was held on Tuesday (October 7) in his hometown in Alappuzha district, Kerala. Tributes flooded social media, with friends describing him as the “heart of every gathering.” “He was more than just a brother. He was the life of our family… Your loss is unbearable, and the void you've created can't be filled,” wrote Sini Susan, one of his close friends. Sudevan had worked for 11 years with a Dubai-based company before moving to Abu Dhabi last year as a senior offshore construction engineer. Friends described him as a devoted family man who was eagerly planning his next family visit for the UAE winter break. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page