Mother of mosque shooting victim dies of a heart attack a day after her son's funeral as she struggled to cope with his loss

  • Saud Adwan, 65, died hours after her murdered son was buried in New Zealand
  • Kamel Darwish was one of the 50 victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings
  • His funeral was held on Friday and his mother suffered a heart attack overnight
  • Family said Adwan's death was due to the grief of losing her 38-year-old son

The mother of one of the Christchurch mosque attack victims has reportedly died of a heart attack just hours after her son's funeral.

Saud Abdelfattah Mhaisen Adwan's death has been blamed on the grief of losing her son, Kamel Darwish, in the terror attack in New Zealand which saw 50 worshippers gunned down ten days ago.  

The 38-year-old moved to Christchurch from Jordan six months ago and was awaiting the arrival of his wife and three children.

The dairy farmer had been convinced to move to New Zealand by his brother, who had lived there since 2007 and said it was a 'safe place to raise a family'. 

But he was shot dead along with 49 members of the Islamic congregation across two mosques in Linwood and Riccarton on March 15.

Christchurch terror victim Kamel Darwish with his wife Rana (left), mother, Saud Adwan (right), and his six-year-old daughter Leen (far right)

Christchurch terror victim Kamel Darwish with his wife Rana (left), mother, Saud Adwan (right), and his six-year-old daughter Leen (far right)

Imam Alabi Lateef Zirullah (right) leads the evening prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch today after it reopened on Saturday

Imam Alabi Lateef Zirullah (right) leads the evening prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch today after it reopened on Saturday

He was laid to rest on Friday, but his mother suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away during the night, according to an official from the Jordanian Embassy in Sydney.

Adwan, who already had a heart condition, arrived in New Zealand from Jordan on Thursday with Darwish's wife Rana and their children for his funeral at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Linwood, according to Stuff.

Her family reportedly found the 65-year-old grandmother dead on Saturday morning.

Kamel Darwish, 38, was one of the 50 worshippers killed in the New Zealand terror attack

Kamel Darwish, 38, was one of the 50 worshippers killed in the New Zealand terror attack 

Family friend Yaser Mohammad said she died because she could not bear the sadness of losing her son.

He told the New Zealand Herald: 'She came yesterday to attend the funeral. Apparently this morning [Saturday] she passed away because she couldn't put up with the sorrow and sadness of losing her son.

'They are arranging to take the coffin back to Jordan.'

Adwan is one of a number of relatives of victims shot in the massacre at the Masjid al Noor mosque in Riccarton and the Linwood Masjid to suffer a heart attack just days later.

Mohsin Al-Harbi, originally from Saudi Arabia, became the 50th victim of the killings after initially surviving the attack then dying in hospital eight hours later.

The 63-year-old's wife Manal was so distressed as she searched for him that she collapsed while having a heart attack and was taken to hospital.

She is now fighting for her life in hospital in a critical condition. 

Worshippers at the Linwood Masjid for evening prayers on Monday local time after the massacre of 50 people at two mosques in the city

Worshippers at the Linwood Masjid for evening prayers on Monday local time after the massacre of 50 people at two mosques in the city

Sazada Akhter was seriously injured after being shot twice at the Al Noor mosque and may be left in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Her mother in Bangladesh was reportedly rushed to hospital suffering from a heart attack when she found out what had happened to her daughter.  

On Sunday up to 40,000 people gathered at a park in Christchurch for a vigil honouring the 50 victims of the mosque terror attack. 

The vigil, held in North Hagley Park, began at 5pm local time with prayers led by Muslim and Christian leaders, followed by performances from opera singers and a kapa haka group. 

Mourners offer funeral prayers for Syed Areeb Ahmed, a Pakistani victim of the Al Noor Mosque attack in New Zealand, during his funeral in Karachi today

Mourners offer funeral prayers for Syed Areeb Ahmed, a Pakistani victim of the Al Noor Mosque attack in New Zealand, during his funeral in Karachi today

 

Pakistani victim of Christchurch mosque attacks buried in Karachi 

By AFP 

Hundreds gathered to pay their final respects as the remains of one of the Pakistani victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks were laid to rest at his home.

Syed Areeb Ahmad was one of nine Pakistani nationals murdered in the New Zealand city earlier the month, when an accused white supremacist gunman killed 50 Muslim worshippers in two mosques. 

Ahmad's body was flown into the southern port city of Karachi and transported to a relative's house where family and friends gathered before heading to the cemetery for the burial.

'It was very painful for the parents and all of us to wait. His funeral is taking place now that is a bit of relief for us', said Ahmad's uncle Aleemullah Khan.

'But his father is in so much agony as Areeb was his only son and the provider for the family', he added after the burial on Monday.

Family and friends carry the coffin of Syed Areeb Ahmed where hundreds gathered to pay their final respects in Karachi

Family and friends carry the coffin of Syed Areeb Ahmed where hundreds gathered to pay their final respects in Karachi 

The father (centre right) of New Zealand terror attack victim being comforted by family and friends at his son's funeral in Pakistan today

The father (centre right) of New Zealand terror attack victim being comforted by family and friends at his son's funeral in Pakistan today 

The other eight Pakistani victims were buried in New Zealand, according to the Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman.

Islamic custom dictates that the dead should be buried within 24 hours, but strained authorities were forced to move carefully with their investigation, delaying funerals by several days in some cases.

Ahmad's burial comes days after Pakistani officials posthumously awarded Naeem Rashid - who tried to tackle the gunman before being shot dead - with the order of bravery during Pakistan Day celebrations over the weekend.

During a visit to Islamabad on Monday, the EU's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini offered her condolences to the victim's families, while warning against the growing threat of Islamophobia.

'It's a threat not only for Muslims but also for our societies because the strength of our societies lies in their diversity and whoever attacks the diversity of our societies, attacks the entire society, not just one segment of it', Mogherini told a press conference. 

Syed Areeb Ahmed was buried in Pakistan today, whereas the eight Pakistani victims were buried in New Zealand

Syed Areeb Ahmed was buried in Pakistan today, whereas the eight Pakistani victims were buried in New Zealand

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