Boy, 8, Was Killed Holding His Dad's Hand While His Heartbroken Mom Ran over 1.3 Miles to See Him

It was a typical day for a family of three as they left home and began walking to a nearby mosque to offer their evening prayer. As the traffic lights turned red, they crossed the road using the pedestrian crossing, utterly oblivious to the forthcoming, unexpected upheavals that would alter the course of their lives.

In a tragic turn of events, a father involved in a motorbike crash awoke from a coma with amnesia, utterly unaware of his eight-year-old son's existence. It was revealed to him that the young boy, Mustafa Ahmed, had tragically lost his life in the same accident.

The incident occurred as 49-year-old Mohamed Mao crossed the road with Mustafa towards the Greenwich Islamic Centre in southeast London. A vehicle struck them, resulting in the devastating loss of the little boy, who was flung several yards and pronounced dead at the scene.

Mohamed, on the other hand, suffered a head injury and a shattered hip. He was airlifted to the hospital alongside his other son, Ahmed Ahmed, aged 11, who endured a punctured liver and neck lacerations.

The family of three had embarked on a walk from their Woolwich Dockyard residence to attend the evening prayer session on Sunday, February 19, 2023, and were navigating the traffic lights around 7:30 p.m. when the tragic incident occurred. Mohamed remained in an induced coma for several weeks, undergoing multiple surgeries and intensive therapy to recover his speech and memory.

When inquired about Ahmed's recovery, Mohamed explained that while he has physically recovered, there are noticeable changes in his behavior.

On Thursday, October 19, Mohammed agreed to revisit the scene to discuss the unfortunate incident, providing insights into his and Ahmed's ongoing recovery and sharing the profound grief his family endured. The Somalia-born bus driver, unable to work since the incident and awaiting a hip replacement, cited his inability to recall details of the fateful night. "I can't remember anything; I don't know what happened that night," said the heartbroken father.

Mohamed's last memory of his son Mustafa was a peaceful walk along the River Thames a few days before the incident. The father, who believes he spent approximately two months in a coma, underwent extensive therapy before being informed of the accident's details.

He admitted to feeling disoriented upon waking, initially unaware of his own identity. Learning about Mustafa's passing came after weeks of speech therapy, adding emotional weight to an already challenging recovery.

"I was still confused a bit. They told me about my son about two months later...It was very bad; I wasn't thinking properly, but I was feeling very bad. I felt guilty; that it happened because I took him from home that day. I used to think it was because of me," expressed Mohamed.

Despite the immense grief, Mohamed acknowledged that his Muslim faith has been a source of strength during the grieving process, helping him come to terms with the reality that he cannot change what happened.

Despite the difficulties they are grappling with, Mohamed and his wife, Heyfa Akubar, aged 43, express a strong desire to relocate from their current residence and are currently on the council's waiting list. Mohamed shared that their decision to move stemmed from the fact that the house held too many memories for the children and his wife.

Ahmed, who used to share a bedroom with Mustafa, now sleeps in his sisters' room. Mohamed revealed that Ahmed avoids entering his old room, and all the children share this sentiment. Although Mohamed and his wife occasionally enter the room, the emotional weight of the memories makes it a challenging experience.

When inquired about Ahmed's recovery, Mohamed explained that while he has physically recovered, there are noticeable changes in his behavior. Ahmed now prefers solitude, maintaining a quiet demeanor and being alone. Mohamed reflected on how Ahmed used to be more open and outgoing before the accident, but now he exhibits withdrawal, even at school.

Mohamed highlighted the close bond between the two brothers, being the only boys in the house, and Ahmed's reluctance to revisit the painful events. Despite the challenges, Mohamed continues to attend the same Islamic center, now relying on transportation by car.

In contrast, Heyfa has opted to pray at a different mosque. Mohamed's friend, Swaleh Bocus, recalled being inside the center when news of the accident was announced, leading the congregation to gather outside.

Swaleh recounted the heartbreaking scene when he observed Heyfa rushing through the police cordon and collapsing to the ground in tears, although he didn't initially recognize her. The devastated mother had traveled over 1.3 miles from her home to the crash scene upon hearing that her little son had been involved, and she collapsed in the street upon discovering his tragic fate.

Heyfa undertook the challenging mile-and-a-half journey on foot from Woolwich Dockyard to Greenwich Islamic Centre after receiving the distressing news that a motorbike had struck Mustafa.

Swaleh said he saw a woman crossing the police cordon and immediately screamed that she couldn't enter that area. But it wasn't long before he realized she was Mustafa's mother. He recalled:

"[Heyfa] had seen her son's things; she knew he had died. She just fell down and collapsed, and the officers and paramedics surrounded her to comfort her. She didn't stand up for nearly half an hour; she was just crying. They said, 'Leave her! Don't run to her! She's the mom!' She could see the boy."

Swaleh and Mohamed are actively supporting a campaign urging Greenwich Council to make road changes at the spot where Mustafa was killed, aiming to enhance safety. A council spokesperson expressed deep sadness over Mustafa's tragic death and the injuries sustained by his family. They admitted to collaborating with the police in the investigation, aiming to eliminate road collision-related incidents.

Meanwhile, the person reportedly responsible for the crash has been taken into police custody. Nicholas Hopkins, aged 20, both unlicensed and uninsured, was on his motorbike when he collided with Mohamed's family, including his son Mustafa, who was holding his dad's hand. The youngster was thrown several yards into the road and tragically lost his life at the scene.

On November 17, Nicholas of Burrage Grove, Plumstead, acknowledged guilt for causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving unlicensed, causing death while uninsured, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and possession of Class B drugs.

A police-released mugshot showed him grinning widely. Nicholas was detained in custody and is scheduled for sentencing at the same court on January 26, 2024. Click here to read another story about an 11-year-old boy who died following a road accident, saving five lives with his organs.