The grieving parents of a Pakistani man who died in floodwaters in Sydney’s west have been forced to watch from a car as their son was buried.
Ayaz Younus’s father Muhammad Younus and mother Maqsooda Bibi flew from Pakistan to attend the funeral for their son on Wednesday.
The pair, who arrived in Australia over the weekend, were granted permission to leave quarantine to attend a prayer service and burial.
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Younus’ three siblings, however, were denied permission to fly from Pakistan.
The 25-year-old software engineer was on the way to his first day at a new job in Glenorie on March 24 and was on the phone to emergency services just before he died.
The emotional couple were unable to touch their son’s body or coffin during the service at Baitul Huda Mosque in Marsden Park, and were segregated from Younus’ friends due to COVID restrictions.
In a message broadcast in the mosque, Younus’ parents spoke of their son’s love for Australia, and his promise to work two jobs in order to bring his family to the country to live.
“When I stepped out of Sydney airport, my eyes were looking for him,” his father said.
“I wished he would have been there to welcome his parents.
“I wished we could have hugged him once more.
“But alas, it didn’t happen.
“Rather we are here to say goodbye to him.
“We all belong to God Almighty and we all shall return to him.”
Later, the pair were confined to a car during their son’s burial, forced to watch and film from a distance through a partially wound-down window.
The funeral was delayed by a coronial inquiry and because of the complications involved getting permission for his family to attend.
"‘I wished we could have hugged him once more.’"
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia helped pay for the family’s travel, accommodation and funeral costs.
Hamad Chaudhry remembered Younus as a keen sportsman who was very involved with the community.
“Ayaz was a very happy and friendly person who loved his sport and was extremely community-minded,” Chaudry said.
“He is deeply missed.”
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