THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE IT HOME FROM SCHOOL… NOW THEIR FAMILY IS SAYING GOODBYE..! – Heartbreaking farewell for cousins, seven and 11, as rescuer reveals chaos after horror crash
An endless stream of mourners have packed a Melbourne mosque to farewell two cousins tragically killed in a freak car accident.
Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, were on their way home from school when the 4WD they were travelling in crashed near the intersection of Nerowie and Parwan-Exford roads in Parwan shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Sarah, the female driver’s niece, died at the scene. Ossama, the driver’s son, was airlifted to The Royal Children’s Hospital with critical upper and lower body injuries but died that night.
On Thursday, mourners packed the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, in Melbourne’s west, to remember the beloved children.
The gathering was told the cousins were now in heaven alongside every other child who had passed away ‘before their time’.
Friends and family were joined by countless well-wishers, who continued to enter the mosque throughout the service.
Some were seen sprinting towards the mosque as the service came to a close.
The parents of the youngsters issued a statement through the Australian Islamic Centre and said the tragedy was something ‘no family can ever be prepared for’.
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Mourners gather to farewell Ossama El Hawli, 11, and Sarah El Hawli, 7, in Newport on Thursday
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A stream of mourners continued to enter the service up until its end
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The Newport mosque was jam packed with mourners on Thursday
‘With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of our beloved Ossama and Sarah,’ the family said.
‘We are trying to come to terms with something that still feels impossible to comprehend, and we ask Allah to give us the strength and patience to carry what has been written for us.’
A man who was among the first on the scene of the crash reached out to the El Hawli family via social media to explain what happened in the chaotic aftermath.
‘It was such a tragic accident to witness me being first on site and seeing out the horrific accident from start to finish was very traumatic and don’t wish it upon anyone,’ he wrote.
The man, who Daily Mail has chosen not to name, described a scene of horror.
‘I feel very sorry for the driver as she tried her hardest while being stuck in the car to keep the kids calm I’m so sorry for not doing anything more in my power to help more than I did,’ he stated.
‘From trying to save Sarah dying in my arms to trying to comfort the two-year-old [survivor] was so heartbreaking for me.
‘I only can imagine what their family is going through. I’m so sorry for the loss of these beautiful kids.’
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Cousins Ossama and Sarah El Hawli make their final journey to the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, in Melbourne’s west
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Hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the fallen cousins
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Mourners hug at the funeral for Ossama and Sarah El Hawli
A family member assured the man they were grateful for all that he had done.
‘Please do not blame yourself or carry any guilt you did everything in your human power during such a horrific and impossible moment thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trying to comfort and save them and for being there with them our family appreciates your humanity and we pray god gives us all the strength to bear this immense loss,’ he was told.
The family also expressed their deepest gratitude to ‘every first responder who came to the scene and did everything possible to help our children’.
‘To the paramedics, Air Ambulance crews, police officers, firefighters and all those who were there in those first critical moments, we will never forget your efforts, your compassion, and the care you showed,’ the family said.
‘In a moment of chaos and unimaginable fear, you stood beside our family and did everything you could, and for that we will always be grateful.’
Al Iman College in Melton South said in a statement the community felt ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragic passing of its student.
‘Sarah was a cherished member of Al Iman College, and this tragedy has deeply affected her classmates, friends, teachers and our wider school community,’ the statement read.
The two cousins were among seven children in the eight-seater 4WD when the vehicle flipped and came to rest on grass between the road and a paddock.
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Mourners continued to stream into the mosque throughout the service from start to finish
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Mourners greet each other before entering the service
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Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, were on their way home from school when the 4WD they were travelling in crashed shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday
Five other children and the 34-year-old female driver were treated in hospital.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The driver’s family told 9News that she had swerved to avoid rocks on the road.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or has CCTV, dashcam footage or information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
