Respected pharmacist killed after power lines fell on driveway after Saturday storm

Respected pharmacist and business leader Hossam Ibrahim was electrocuted in front of his wife and three children in what neighbours said was a “horrific sight”. He was killed when power lines fell into his driveway after storms swept across Sydney on Saturday.

Ausgrid worked to shut off power in the street so emergency responders could reach the man. Picture: Steve Tyson

Respected pharmacist and business leader Hossam Ibrahim was electrocuted in front of his wife and three children in what neighbours said was a “horrific sight”.

The 38-year-old was killed by downed power lines in the driveway of his Acacia Ave, Punchbowl home after storms swept across Sydney on Saturday.

Dr Hossam Ibrahim was electrocuted in front of his wife and young children.

Electricity emergency workers were at the scene. Picture: Steve Tyson

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His neighbour David Andraos­ said he ran outside after hearing a loud bang about 10.30pm and warned people to stay away — before he saw Mr Ibrahim among the fallen wires which had caught alight.

“I warned everyone to stay away from the wires and to not go near them,” Mr Andraos­ said.

“He (Mr Ibrahim) was out on his balcony with his wife and kids and I’ve told him as well — I don’t know if he understood me or not.

“He’s walked straight into the wire and planted face-first into the ground.

“I tried to help him but there was only so much I could do, I couldn’t touch him otherwise I would have been right beside him.

Dr Hossam Ibrahim walked on a powerline at Punchbowl. Picture: Steve Tyson

Residents were told to stay inside as responders attempted to reach the man. Picture: Steve Tyson

“Everyone was screaming, it wasn’t a pleasant sight — just seeing him there and knowing I want to help him but I couldn’t do anything to help him. His clothes lit up (in) flames, I couldn’t do anything to help him.

“His wife and kids saw him get electrocuted, they saw it right in front of them … you heard the screaming from blocks away. It was a very horrific sight.

“The images aren’t nice, seeing his wife and kids yell­ing ‘Help him, help him.’ Knowing that I want to help him and I can’t.”

It is unknown what caused the power lines to fall. Residents said lightning was seen in the area about 30 minutes earlier.

Chamoun Harb said the fallen wires had sparked small fires before Mr Ibrahim approached — despite his children pleading with him to stay put.

Emergency responders at the scene where Dr Hossam Ibrahim was electrocuted. Picture: Steve Tyson

“We were scared to go down because all the wires were on the floor and it was very dark. (Mr Ibrahim) was going out and I heard his children saying ‘Don’t go Dad, don’t go Dad’ and he just walked … and suddenly he got caught.”

Mr Ibrahim was a former pharmacist in Egypt who now worked in business development in the healthcare sector. He has a masters degree in leadership, recently starting his PhD, and was well known in Punchbowl’s Middle Eastern community as “Dr Hossam”.

Dr Hossam Ibrahim was a respected pharmacist.

It is unknown what caused the powerlines to fall down. Picture: Steve Tyson

He was also regularly involved in charity work, in particular as chairman of Islamic­ Relief Australia.

“He has been an incredible catalyst for change and our primary supporter in making us who we are today,” an Islamic Relief colleague­ said.

The charity tweeted on Sunday a tribute saying: “We mourn the passing of a great humanitarian & will honour his legacy in our work.”