Maryland couple ‘walked for hours’ before dying in Hajj heat

A US couple who died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia were walking for over two hours in scorching temperatures before they succumbed to heat stroke, their daughter has told the BBC.

Alhaji Alieu Dausy, 71, and Haja Isatu Wurie, 65, of Bowie, Maryland, were among an estimated 1,300 people who died during the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Temperatures during this year’s gathering exceeded 122F (50C) at times.

Saida Wurie told the BBC her parents’ tour group had failed to provide many of the items it promised, including food and adequate water.

The Sierra Leone-born couple went missing on Sunday 16 June, two weeks after arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Days later, the younger Ms Wurie was informed that they had died.

The grieving daughter told the BBC the Hajj pilgrimage was “very important” to her parents, and they had paid $11,500 (£9,000) each to go.

“It’s something that they wanted to do their entire lives,” she added. “They were beyond excited.”

The couple travelled to the Middle East with a group of nearly 100 other pilgrims through an American touring company operating out of Maryland.

According to Ms Wurie, “a lot of the things promised to them weren’t provided”.

“They went a few days having to find food for themselves, even though the package was supposed to come with meals every day.”

With minimal supplies in the smouldering heat, the couple told Ms Wurie that they were “taking it a day at a time” and making sure they stayed hydrated.

The BBC has contacted the company for comment.