“So sorry.” Those heartbreaking words marked the farewell to two young cousins, aged just seven and 11, after a devastating crash. Their families gathered to say goodbye, while a first responder has now described the chaotic aftermath of the collision. The account offers a painful glimpse into what unfolded at the scene, as loved ones struggle to come to terms with losing two children so young. 👇 The first responder’s account of the crash scene — and the emotional farewell from the children’s family — are in the comments.
💔 “I’m so sorry.” A heartbreaking farewell has begun for two young cousins, aged just seven and 11, after a devastating crash tore through their family.
Their loved ones are now saying goodbye, while a first responder has revealed the chaotic scene that unfolded in the moments after the collision.
The details of the aftermath have added another painful layer to a tragedy that has left two families grieving.
👇 The first responder’s account of what happened at the scene — and the emotional words from the children’s family — are in the comments.
**‘I’m so sorry’: Heartbroken family farewell cousins, seven and 11, killed in horror crash – as first responder reveals the chaotic aftermath**
An endless stream of mourners 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’.
‘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.’
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. 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.
The confirmed sequence begins with the crash itself. Shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday the 4WD carrying the children was travelling near the intersection of Nerowie and Parwan-Exford roads in Parwan. The vehicle flipped and came to rest on grass between the road and a paddock. Sarah El Hawli, aged 7 and the niece of the female driver, died at the scene. Ossama El Hawli, aged 11 and the son of the driver, was airlifted to The Royal Children’s Hospital with critical upper and lower body injuries and died that night. Five other children and the 34-year-old female driver received hospital treatment. The two cousins were among seven children travelling in the eight-seater vehicle.
On Thursday the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, in Melbourne’s west, became the site of the farewell. Mourners filled the mosque. The service continued while additional well-wishers kept arriving. Some people ran toward the building as the service drew to its end. Those present were told that the cousins were now in heaven with every other child who had passed away before their time.
The family statement issued through the Australian Islamic Centre described the loss as something no family can ever be prepared for. It recorded heavy hearts in mourning the beloved Ossama and Sarah. It stated that the family was trying to come to terms with something that still felt impossible to comprehend and asked Allah for strength and patience to carry what had been written for them.
The first responder who reached the scene contacted the family through social media. He described the experience of being first on site and witnessing the accident from start to finish as very traumatic and something he would not wish on anyone. He expressed sorrow for the driver, noting that she tried her hardest while stuck in the car to keep the children calm. He apologised for not doing more within his power. He recounted trying to save Sarah, who died in his arms, and trying to comfort the two-year-old survivor, describing both efforts as heartbreaking. He said he could only imagine what the family was going through and offered his sorrow for the loss of the children.
A family member replied that the man should not blame himself or carry guilt. The reply stated that he had done everything in his human power during a horrific and impossible moment. It thanked him from the bottom of the family’s hearts for trying to comfort and save the children and for being present with them. The family expressed appreciation for his humanity and prayed that God would give everyone the strength to bear the immense loss.
In a further statement the family directed gratitude to every first responder who attended the scene. The list of those thanked included paramedics, Air Ambulance crews, police officers, firefighters and all others present in the first critical moments. The family said it would never forget the efforts, compassion and care shown. It stated that in a moment of chaos and unimaginable fear those responders stood beside the family and did everything they could, and for that the family would always be grateful.
Al Iman College in Melton South issued its own statement. It recorded that the community felt deeply saddened by the tragic passing of its student. The college described Sarah as a cherished member and said the tragedy had deeply affected her classmates, friends, teachers and the wider school community.
The investigation into the crash is under way. Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit have begun examining the circumstances. The driver’s family told 9News that the driver had swerved to avoid rocks on the road. Authorities have asked anyone who witnessed the crash or who holds CCTV, dashcam footage or other information to contact Crime Stoppers.
These elements constitute the full set of confirmed details. The crash occurred shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday near the named intersection. Sarah died at the scene. Ossama was airlifted with critical injuries and died that night. Five other children and the 34-year-old driver were treated in hospital. Seven children had been travelling in the eight-seater 4WD that flipped onto the grass. The funeral took place on Thursday at the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport. Mourners continued to arrive throughout the service and some ran toward the mosque at its close. The gathering was told the children were in heaven with others who had died before their time. The family statement spoke of heavy hearts, an impossible-to-comprehend loss, and a request for strength and patience. The first responder described the traumatic scene, the driver’s efforts to calm the children, his own attempts to help Sarah and the two-year-old, and his sorrow. The family replied with gratitude and an instruction not to carry guilt. The family separately thanked all first responders for their presence and actions in the critical moments. The school described Sarah as cherished and noted the effect on its community. The investigation has started, the driver’s family account of swerving for rocks has been reported, and a public appeal for information has been made.
No further particulars beyond these statements and observations are present. The account remains limited to the recorded facts of the crash, the deaths, the funeral, the family statements, the first responder’s message and the family’s reply, the school’s response, and the opening of the investigation. Each element is restated only to keep the boundaries clear. The sequence is preserved exactly as given: the journey home from school, the crash, the immediate outcomes for Sarah and Ossama, the hospital treatment of the others, the Thursday gathering at the mosque, the words spoken there and in the family statements, the first responder’s account of the chaotic aftermath, the reciprocal expressions of gratitude and sorrow, the school’s expression of sadness, and the continuing investigative steps.
