The last call by international student who became first fatality of NSW floods

A Pakistani national who died after his car was trapped in floodwaters in Sydney, is remembered as an 'ambitious and friendly young man' by those who knew him. He was en route to his new job with which he had dreamt of supporting his family back home.

Ayaz was waiting for the first day of his new job for a long time. Source: Supplied by Atta Sharifi

Highlights

Pakistani national Ayaz Younus was an international student in Sydney.
Ayaz was on his way to his new job when his car got trapped in floodwaters at Gelnorie.
He was on the phone for help for nearly 40 minutes before his car sank.

Ayaz Younus, the first fatality of the Sydney floods, made his last phone call for help to rescue on 24 March.

He was to start a new job that day.

The 25-year-old Pakistani national had raised an alarm when his car began sinking into the floodwaters at Cattai Ridge Road in Glenorie, Detective Inspector Chris Laird said.

NSW Police announced earlier that a man had died after his car was trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s northwest.

The 25-year-old arrived in Australia two years ago as an international student and soon made many friends.

His flatmate Atta Sharifi told SBS Urdu that Ayaz was a friendly, energetic, and ambitious person who always had a smile on his face.

Another flatmate, Imran Ahmed, remembers Ayaz as a passionate young man who was equally sincere towards his career in Australia and his family in Pakistan.

He still remembers his last conversation with Ayaz around 5 am before he left for work.

“We had a brief chat and Ayaz said that he had been waiting for this moment, his first day of the job, for a long time and that now he will be able to support his family back in Pakistan," Imran Ahmed added.

Ayaz was very happy that morning and told Imran that it was the beginning of a new phase of his life.

Pakistanis across Australia saddened by the death of student in fatal car crash

According to the police, at around 6.25 am on 24 March, emergency services responded to a call that a car was trapped in floodwaters on Cattai Ridge Road, near Hidden Valley Lane, at Glenorie.

Officers from The Hills Police Area Command attended the scene, along with SES Flood Rescue, to search for the vehicle in Cattai Creek. About 1.10 pm, the vehicle was found with a man’s body inside.

It was Ayaz.

Details of Pakistani student's drowning in Australia

It is reported that emergency services spent 39 minutes on the phone with the man, as his car sank near Hidden Valley Lane but NSW police spokesperson said in a statement received to SBS Urdu that the Triple Zero (000) call lasted less than three minutes (2 minutes 44 seconds) before the call was disconnected while Emergency services operators attempted repeatedly to call the number back without success.”

Many community members shared their frustration and some were outraged on social media about the long time it has taken to reach rescue sites. NSW Police statement says "As the matter remains before the Coroner, no further information will be provided". Community pages on social media are brimming with condolence messages since when the tragic news broke.

Shahbaz Muhammad Khan knew Ayaz from the day he set foot in Australia.

Ayaz stayed with Shahbaz for his first few months in the country. Shahbaz remembers him as an “intelligent and caring person”.

“He would affectionately call me ‘Khan Lala’. We spoke last week and planned to meet at dinner,” Shahbaz recalls.

(L-R) Atta Sharifi, Ayaz Younus (Late), Imran Ahmed. Source: Atta Sharifi

Imran told SBS Urdu that he met Ayaz almost a-year-and-a-half ago and the duo quickly became friends since Ayaz loved to socialise.

“Barely two days before he died, we spent a fun day at home playing cards, enjoying some music, and discussing our plans for the future,” he recollects.

"I prepared myself for the worst yesterday afternoon but despite being in continuous touch with his family, I did not share the tragic news with them,” Imran adds.

A car is seen submerged in the Macleay River in Kempsey on the Mid North Coast of NSW Source: AAP/Jason O’Brien

His other friend, Atta, says the entire community is saddened by Ayaz's tragic demise and concerned about his family in Pakistan.

The Pakistani consulate in Sydney and the Pakistan Association of Australia have established contact with Ayaz’s family.

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre provides information about the severe weather at any time of day on 1800 227 228. For emergency help in floodwaters, call the NSW SES on 132 500.