Aswan, Egypt – A wedding celebration in Upper Egypt turned into a heartbreaking scene when 28-year-old groom Ashraf Abu Hakam collapsed and died during his reception on September 25.
Hakam was performing the traditional Egyptian Saidi dance, holding his bride’s hand and waving a Saidi stick as music played and guests cheered. Midway through the lively performance, he suddenly fell motionless to the floor. Panic spread through the crowd as relatives and guests screamed in horror and rushed to help him. Despite desperate attempts to revive him, Hakam could not be saved.
According to the reports in Gulf News, authorities confirmed that Hakam suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, with some outlets also describing it as a suspected heart attack. Local officials in Aswan pronounced him dead at the scene, bringing the festivities to an abrupt and tragic end.
A heart attack occurs when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked. Fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits build up over time, forming plaques in the heart's arteries. If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form. The clot can block arteries, causing a heart attack. During a heart attack, a lack of blood flow causes the tissue in the heart muscle to die.
A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction.
Prompt treatment is needed for a heart attack to prevent death. Call emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack, as per Mayo Clinic.
Just one day before the wedding, Hakam and his fiancée had celebrated their engagement, part of the multi-day traditions common in Egyptian weddings. The wedding had included joyful customs such as a henna night, a religious ceremony, and a lively procession leading up to the reception. Guests described the atmosphere as jubilant before the sudden collapse left the hall in stunned silence.
Friends and relatives took to social media to mourn Hakam, sharing messages that described him as “full of life” and eagerly looking forward to his new future. One friend, quoted by Gulf News, said the tragic turn “shattered the joy in an instant,” reflecting the deep grief felt by those present.
Video footage of the incident, circulated online and reported by The Mirror and Gulf News, showed Hakam dancing energetically in traditional attire before collapsing in front of horrified guests. The haunting images underscored the abruptness of the tragedy and amplified the story’s reach beyond Egypt.
What was meant to be the happiest day of the couple’s lives ended in devastation. As news spread, condolences poured in across social media, with many expressing shock at how quickly joy gave way to mourning.
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)