‘I’m so sorry’: Heartbroken family farewell cousins, seven and 11, killed in horror crash – as first responder reveals heartbreaking aftermath
Mourners gathered at the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, Melbourne, to farewell cousins Sarah El Hawli, seven, and Ossama El Hawli, 11, who died after the 4WD they were travelling in crashed near Parwan in Melbourne's west. The funeral drew an overwhelming turnout of family, friends and well-wishers, reflecting the shock felt across the local community over the loss of two young children in a single accident.
Sarah, the niece of the female driver, died at the scene, while Ossama, the driver's son, was airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital with critical injuries but died that night. A first responder who tried to help at the crash site later contacted the family to describe the harrowing scene, including attempting to comfort a two-year-old survivor, and the family publicly thanked him along with paramedics, police and other emergency crews for their efforts. Sarah's school, Al Iman College in Melton South, said her death had deeply affected staff and students.
- Cousins aged 7 and 11 died in a Melbourne car crash near Parwan.
- Hundreds attended their funeral at Newport's Australian Islamic Centre.
- A first responder and emergency crews were thanked for their efforts.
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Mourners have gathered at the Australian Islamic Centre in Newport, in Melbourne's west, for the funeral of two cousins, seven-year-old Sarah El Hawli and 11-year-old Ossama El Hawli, who died after the 4WD they were travelling in crashed near Parwan. Sarah died at the scene, while Ossama was airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital with critical injuries and died later that night.
The two children were related to the woman who was driving the vehicle: Sarah was her niece and Ossama was her son. A two-year-old also survived the crash, and emergency responders, including paramedics and police, attended the scene.
The case has drawn wide attention because of the scale of loss within one family and the emotional toll on the local community, including Sarah's school, Al Iman College in Melton South. It matters as an example of how a single crash can devastate an extended family and ripple through a school and wider community.