By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: A Filipino who allegedly tested COVID-19 positive at Amiri Hospital and allegedly killed himself in a bathroom at the hospital was an engineer who was in Kuwait on a visit visa. He came at the invitation of his Abu Dhabi-based company for a project in Kuwait. Because of the lockdown, he wasn't able to go back to Abu Dhabi for more than a month. He was only given a week's visa upon arrival in Kuwait, but due to the lockdown, was unable to return to Abu Dhabi.

Speaking with Kuwait Times via Facebook, Larry (not his real name) said he was in the same hotel in Kuwait City as the person who committed suicide. Larry, who was also in Kuwait on a visit visa, left the country last Monday when Kuwait opened outbound flights. He said the deceased became his friend during the time they were locked down at the hotel. They were not permitted to leave the hotel due to having expired visas.

Larry decided to go back to the Philippines when outbound flights to Manila from Kuwait reopened. But the person who committed suicide remained at the hotel, fearing he might lose his job if he decided to go straight to the Philippines. "I told him to go back with me to the Philippines since he had his family there. But he said he cannot go back to the Philippines directly since he has a job in Abu Dhabi," Larry said, quoting his former hotel mate.

But what could have triggered the alleged suicide, inquired Kuwait Times. "We don't know, but he was taking medication. I left Kuwait on Monday, and on Tuesday he went to Amiri Hospital. I checked his Facebook page on Thursday, he wasn't online anymore," Larry said.

A source from Amiri Hospital claimed the man who committed suicide and was reportedly COVID-19 positive has received a notice of termination from his Abu Dhabi-based company. He was found in a toilet in Amiri Hospital with an electrical cord around his neck Thursday morning.