Engineer Hariraj Sudevan, 37, dies suddenly in Abu Dhabi after seeing off wife and son bound for Kerala; friends recall missed health warning signs
In a heartbreaking incident, Hariraj Sudevan, a 37-year-old Indian-origin engineer and IIT Madras alumnus, passed away in the United Arab Emirates just hours after dropping his family at the airport. On October 6, Sudevan suffered a fatal heart attack soon after he saw off his wife and son at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, where they boarded a flight to their hometown in Kerala, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Recalling the tragic evening, Sudevan’s friend Digin shared that after leaving his family at the airport, Sudevan picked up his roommate Sujith, who had just returned from Kerala. The two visited Digin’s house to celebrate his daughter’s birthday before heading home around 9 pm. A few hours later, at 11:40 pm, Sudevan began to feel unwell.
Paramedics arrived quickly and administered CPR and first aid, before taking him to a nearby hospital. Despite their best efforts, doctors could not revive him, and he was declared dead.
Sudevan, described as a devoted father and fitness enthusiast, had recently expressed mild health concerns but continued to lead an active lifestyle
Friends said Sudevan had diabetes, which he managed with diet and yoga, and was also an avid badminton player. Digin recalled that Sudevan had mentioned an abnormal ECG reading during a recent offshore medical checkup but was reassured after further tests showed normal results. He had attributed his occasional chest discomfort to gastric issues.
Sudevan’s wife, Dr. Anu Ashok, and 10-year-old son, Ishaan Dev Hari, were visiting him on UAE residence visas. He had planned to return to Kerala later this month to celebrate his son’s 10th birthday on October 27. His father-in-law, Ashokan K.P., told Gulf News, “We are all devastated and finding it difficult to accept the reality that he is no more.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Sudevan completed his M.Tech in Ocean Engineering from IIT Madras (2009–2011) and had been employed with McDermott International Ltd in the UAE for the past 12 years.
