Dubai: An 18-year-old Indian student, Vaishnav Krishnakumar, studying at Middlesex University Dubai, tragically died of a cardiac arrest while participating in Diwali celebrations in the city on Thursday night. The incident has sent shockwaves through the expatriate community.
Vaishnav, a first-year BBA student, reportedly collapsed during the festivities. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. Authorities have confirmed the cause of death as cardiac arrest. The Dubai Police Forensic Department has launched a standard investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances of the sudden tragedy.
Officials have confirmed that arrangements are being made to repatriate the body to his native state of Kerala, India, for the final rites. According to his family, the bright young man had no known history of heart ailments.
Who Was Vaishnav Krishnakumar?
Vaishnav Krishnakumar hailed from Chennithala, Alappuzha, Kerala, but was born and raised in the UAE, where his parents, V.G. Krishnakumar and Vidhu Krishnakumar, have been long-term residents for over 20 years. He was an alumnus of GEMS Our Own Indian School.
Vaishnav was a recipient of the prestigious UAE Golden Visa, a long-term residency permit allowing foreigners to live, work, and study in the UAE for 5 or 10 years without a local sponsor.
Known for his leadership skills, his LinkedIn profile highlights significant roles in the Model United Nations (MUN), where he served as President of the MUN Club and previously as Vice President. He had chaired several MUN committees and won multiple awards for Best Delegate and Best Chair. Relatives in Kerala recalled his family’s last visit to their newly built home two years ago, emphasizing that Vaishnav was a “smart and intelligent boy with most of his friends there.”
