Akram Syed remembered by family and friends after Goulburn crash

The heartbroken best friend of a man has described the pain he felt learning his mate had died in a horror car crash. The 33-year-old is being remembered as a ‘generous easy-going person’.

The family and friends of a Goulburn man who died in a car crash on the weekend have shared their love for the “genuinely good, down to earth, humble person”.

Akram Syed, 33, was killed at about 6pm on Saturday, August 7, in a two-vehicle car crash on Taralga Road in Goulburn.

Mr Syed had been travelling home from his work at Hungry Jacks in Marulan when his car collided with a white utility, causing his car to spin before it stopped on the other side of the road.

Police confirmed Mr Syed died at the scene.

His housemate, Muhammad Shehroz Khuwaja, told The Bowral News he knew something was wrong when Mr Syed didn’t answer his texts.

His uncle said Akram Syed had spent nearly ten years in Australia.

“He said ‘I’m on the way’ so I was expecting him to come in like 15-20 minutes,” he said.

When his housemate didn’t appear for work that evening, Mr Khuwaja went to the police and was told Mr Syed had died at the scene. He is still shocked at how quickly he’d lost his best friend.

“It just happened in 30 minutes. It didn’t take longer than that,” he said.

“It’s a huge loss.”

The housemates spent all of their time together when they weren’t working and Mr Khuwaja said they were more like brothers than friends.

Mr Syed was generous, thoughtful, and a “nice and kind” soul, according to his housemate.

“Everyone who just met this person would have good memories and good words for him,” he said.

“He was always giving hope and encouragement to other people. He would never say anything negative to anybody whatever the times. He always was a helping hand to others.”

Akram Syed was really enjoying living in Goulburn, according to his uncle.

Mr Syed had been due to start a new full-time job this week, which he was very excited abour.

Mr Khuwaja said Mr Syed’s parents in India had also been excited about his prospects for marriage thanks to the looming permanent resident status.

“No one knew, now they have to arrange for his funeral instead of his marriage,” he said.

Mr Syed’s uncle Muhammad Ibrahim, who lives in Melbourne, had the duty of telling Mr Syed’s parents their son had passed away and said they were devastated.

Mr Ibrahim said his nephew was a “generous, easygoing person” who was the sole breadwinner for himself and his family in India. He said Mr Syed made friends very easily and had touched the lives of so many people.

To help return his kindness, Mr Ibrahim set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expenses of the funeral and memorial services in Australia.

“All of his friends are suggesting we do this fundraiser so we can look after his family for these months,” he said.

“We can send the money on to the family after all the costs of the funeral here.”

A fundraising campaign to assist the family of Akram Syed was set up by his uncle.

At the time of writing, the campaign had raised nearly $45,000 of the $150,000 goal for the funeral and the Syed family.

The funeral will be held in Melbourne, where Mr Syed will be buried after the last rites. Although many family and friends won’t be able to attend due to the pandemic, many have said farewell prayers and gathered to remember Mr Syed’s warm and generous spirit. Mr Khuwaja said his loss would be felt for a long time to come.

“I went to my place and I was looking for him but I know he’s not going to come back,” Mr Khuwaja said.

“I do not have the words to explain what a wonderful person he was.”