'Don't go dad!' Harrowing last words a pharmacist, 38, heard before being electrocuted to death in front of his family – as witnesses reveal he was trying to put out flames with a hose
- Father died in front of his wife and kids after he became tangled by power lines
- Hossam Ibrahim electrocuted in Punchbowl in Sydney's south-west on Saturday
- He was trying to put out a fire sparked by snapped power lines with a hose
- Neighbours say his kids begged to him not to go near the high voltage cables
- Dr Ibrahim remembered as devoted father and respected community member
A chilling plea from his children were the harrowing last words a well-respected pharmacist heard before he was electrocuted to death in front of his shocked family.
Father-of-three Hossam Ibrahim, 38, died after he became tangled in fallen live power lines outside his Punchbowl home in Sydney's south-west during a wild storm on Saturday night.
Shattered neighbours said Dr Ibrahim was trying to put out a fire sparked by snapped power lines with a hose when the tragedy occurred.
Father of three Hossam Ibrahim was electrocuted to death in front of his shocked family
They added that Dr Ibrahim's frightened children had begged him to not go near the high voltage cables.
'We were scared to go down because all the wires were on the floor and it was very dark. (Mr Ibrahim) was going out and I heard his children saying ‘Don’t go Dad, don’t go Dad’ and he just walked … and suddenly he got caught,' Chamoun Harb told The Daily Telegraph.
David Andraos added: 'I warned everyone to stay away from the wires and to not go near them. He (Mr Ibrahim) was out on his balcony with his wife and kids and I’ve told him as well.'
Dr Ibrahim was trying to fight the fire (pictured) with a garden hose when tragedy struck
Dr Ibrahim's frightened children begged him to stay clear of the high voltage cables
Witnesses described the scene as horrific with 'blood everywhere'.
'It wasn’t nice. His clothes lit up as well, his pants where he was hit with the wire were in flames,' Mr Andraos told 7 News.
'I couldn't do nothing to help him.'
A passer-by had to drag Dr Ibrahim's distressed children away from rushing to their father's aid after he was electrocuted.
Police, paramedics, firefighters and electricity emergency workers were unable to reach Dr Ibrahim for more than half an hour when they arrived, forced to helplessly watch on as the power lines were still active.
The death of the respected community members was described as a horrific sight by horrified neighbours. Pictured are emergency crews at the tragic scene
One of the first emergency responders was a friend of Dr Ibrahim, according to NSW Ambulance Inspector John Brotherhood.
The cause of the fallen power lines are yet to be determined.
Mr Ibrahim was well respected in the local Middle Eastern community and was a pharmacist in his homeland Egypt.
The Islamic Relief Australia chairman had only moved into the Acacia Avenue home with his family a month ago.
Friends and colleagues have taken to social media to pay tribute to the devoted father and community man.
Mr Hossam Ibrahim, 38, was electrocuted outside his new Punchbowl home on Saturday night
'He was a great man who would always have a big smile on his face when you would see him,' one person posted.
Penny Appeal Australia chief executive Mohamed Mayat added: 'Dr Hossam was a kind and respected man who worked hard to make a significant contribution to humanity. We have a lost a brother and the sector has lost a great humanitarian. My condolences and deepest sympathies go out to his family. I hope they are given the strength needed during this difficult time.'
Many others took to Dr Ibrahim's Facebook page to express their shock.
Islamic Relief Australia also publicly expressed its 'shock, disbelief and great sadness' over Dr Ibrahim's 'untimely passing'.
Police, paramedics, firefighters and electricity emergency workers, who arrived in the street, initially struggled to access the scene as the power lines were still active
'Words cannot express our sorrow, may your heart and soul find comfort,' Islamic Relief Australia posted on Facebook on Sunday night.
'His generosity, humanitarian conviction and compassion inspired us all, and through his leadership and guidance, thousands of vulnerable people in countries across the world have received life saving assistance or been supported to improve their lives and livelihoods.'
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