Dubai: An 18-year-old Indian student and recipient of the UAE Golden Visa died of cardiac arrest in Dubai during Diwali celebrations, local media reported.

Vaishnav Krishnakumar, a first-year BBA Marketing student at Middlesex University Dubai, reportedly collapsed on Tuesday during a Diwali celebration at Dubai International Academic City, Gulf News reported on Wednesday.

He was rushed to a hospital, but doctors declared him “brought dead due to cardiac arrest,” the report said. According to the family, the Dubai Police Forensic Department is conducting further investigations. They said Vaishnav had no known heart problems.

“His parents want to take his body to Kerala for the final rites, so we are getting the paperwork sorted. We hope everything will be done and they can fly home on Friday,” Vaishnav's uncle and Dubai resident Nitish told Khaleej Times. “We still don't have a clear picture of exactly what happened,” he added.

Gopi Karnavar, a relative and neighbour of Vaishnav whose family hails from Karazhma in Chennithala, Alappuzha, said the family visited their native place two years ago. “They rarely visited Chennithala. The last time they came was for the housewarming ceremony of their newly built home two years ago,” he told PTI.

Vaishnav's father, Krishnakumar, has been working in Dubai for over 20 years. “Vaishnav and his younger sister were born and brought up there. He was a smart and intelligent boy with most of his friends in Dubai,” Karnavar said. “We were informed that the body will reach home on Friday. The cremation is planned at their residence on Saturday.”

In a condolence statement, Middlesex University said Vaishnav's “loss has deeply affected our community.” GEMS Our Own Indian School, where he studied earlier, called him a compassionate and talented student loved by all, and postponed upcoming events in his memory.

Teachers and classmates remembered Vaishnav as a bright, caring, and inspiring young man whose sudden death has left the Indian community in sorrow.

He is survived by his parents, V.G. Krishnakumar and Vidhu Krishnakumar, and younger sister Vrishti Krishnakumar.