‘Forever in our hearts’: Family mourns two children killed in horror crash
The family of two children who were killed when a four-wheel-drive rolled west of Melbourne have said the two “will remain forever in our hearts”.
Cousins Sarah El Hawli, 7, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, were travelling home from school when the four-wheel-drive they were in rolled down an embankment near the intersection of Nerowie and Parwan-Exford Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Some wreckage from the crash remained at the site on Wednesday as police investigations continue. Eddie Jim
The car was being driven by Ossama’s 34-year-old mother, who was also Sarah’s aunty.
The mother had five of her children in the car, and the other two were relatives.
The funeral for the two children will be held on Thursday at Newport Mosque.
The family said in a statement shared by the Australian Islamic Centre that the loss was one “no family can ever be prepared for”.
“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.”
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.
“To the doctors, nurses and staff at Sunshine Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Royal Children’s Hospital, thank you for the care, dignity and compassion you showed to our children and our family.
“We know that behind every treatment, every decision and every difficult moment were people doing everything they could to help.
Local John Bibby looks at his fence, which was cut during the rescue efforts on Tuesday. Eddie Jim
“Your kindness, professionalism and humanity during the darkest moments of our lives will never be forgotten.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who has respected our privacy and allowed us the space to grieve together as a family.
“We respectfully ask that this privacy continues to be honoured in the days ahead as we mourn and begin to process this immense loss.
“Ossama and Sarah were deeply loved, and they will remain forever in our hearts.”
Al Iman College in Melton South said in a statement the community felt “deeply saddened” by their tragic passing.
“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 school said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and Ossama’s families and all those affected by this devastating tragedy.
“We also continue to pray for the full recovery of the children who were injured.
“The college’s priority has been supporting our students, families and staff.
“Counselling and wellbeing support has been made available, with particular care being provided to those directly affected.
“As a community of faith, we are supporting one another through prayer, compassion and care.”
Emergency services were called to the scene in Parwan before 4pm on Tuesday to find an eight-seater four-wheel drive had rolled, causing multiple injuries.
The family of the mother told 9News that she had swerved to avoid rocks on the road.
The five surviving children were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A teenage boy and primary school aged boy suffered upper bodies but remained in a stable condition, while a female toddler sustained a minor upper body injury and was in a stable condition.
The children remained at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The mother was hospitalised for observation, and was discharged on Wednesday afternoon.
Speed and alcohol are not believed to have triggered the crash.
Police called for anyone with footage of the incident or other information to come forward.
“The vehicle inexplicably rolled, we don’t know why,” Victoria Police’s Tony Gentile said at the scene.
“This is just a really sad set of circumstances.
“The scene was quite hectic, with family coming as well, and there were people everywhere.”
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