Prayer vigil held for boy, 11, critically injured in Oatlands crash
About a 100 people gathered to pray for the 11-year-old boy one week after he was injured in the Oatlands crash which killed four other children. This comes as hundreds of others met to offer their condolences to the Abdallah and Sakr families.
NSW
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- Family ‘running out of tears’ as community gathers in condolence
- Injured Oatlands survivor visits crash site for first time
Shocked family and friends have gathered to pray for an 11-year-old boy who remains in hospital following a horrific accident in Sydney’s west which killed four children.
At a sombre gathering on the grounds of The Children’s Hospital Westmead late Saturday afternoon, about 100 people including members of the Maronite Christian community prayed for the boy who is in a coma and fighting for life.
He and six other children were struck by an alleged drunk driver in Oatlands on February 1.
Community members hugged and consoled each other and lit candles under a marquee in a back garden of the hospital – erected to keep out the rain.
The boy’s grandfather thanked the hospital and the police for their help.
“I want a message of peace to get to everyone,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Pray for my grandson.”
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Priest Father John Lancono, who was running the service, told those gathered that “we only have children on loan from God for a short time”.
“If God wants him to heal it’s God’s plan; if God wants to take him it’s God’s plan,” he said.
“The Lord is using his angels and (the boy) to bring unity and peace to our family.
“Some of you are holding grudges and carrying resentment. I hope and pray that you leave here without this garbage.”
Abdallah siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, 8, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, died on Bettington Rd in Oatlands on Saturday, February 1 about 7.50pm.
With their funeral on Monday the priest said “Monday will be something we’ve probably never witnessed before in Australia”.
The 11-year-old boy has been in a critical condition since the incident while his another child, also injured in the accident, was discharged earlier this week.
The family did not wish to speak about his condition.
Another child who was hurt in the crash has also been released from hospital.
Around the same time, a mere 4km away, mourners gathered for the second day at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral’s church hall in Harris Park.
Hundreds of people came to the church to hear prayers and offer their c
condolences to the Abdallahs, with Leila often tearful.
The parents of 11-year old victim Veronique Sakr, Bob and Bridget Sakr were beside Mr Abdallah during the service.
Former Eels captain Tim Mannah – who is Mr Abdallah’s cousin – was also at the service.
Mr Mannah declined to comment.
Again, the line of people paying their respects to the family went well out the door.
Police will allege Samuel Davidson, 29, was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit when his Mitsubishi ute mounted a kerb and struck the seven children.
Danny and Leila Abdallah, who lost three children, said in a statement on Friday: “To begin to encapsulate or express the heart wrenching pain and sorrow we are experiencing in this time would require endless words of despair.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy; unfathomable beyond all description.”
Mr and Mrs Abdallah said their children were their reason for living.
“What is life without your children? How and where do we begin to pick up the pieces?” they said.