Melbourne Singapore community rallying behind family involved in crash

SINGAPORE: An informal group of Singaporeans living in Melbourne is rallying behind the family recovering from a horrific road accident which happened while they were on holiday in Australia.

The Melbourne SG Kampong Facebook group said in a statement on Wednesday that the Singaporean family is expected to remain in Melbourne for about three months.

The group said the family had been receiving help and donations from the local community.

The family of six were travelling to Melbourne from Sydney on June 18 when the accident happened.

The van the six were in smashed into a tree on the Hume Freeway.

The crash killed nine—year—old Jibrail Amirullah Fauzy, the youngest child of Mr Fawzi Aman and Madam Zuleeza Suri.

He was buried in Melbourne two days later.

Mr Fauzi and his wife, along with two of their three sons who survived, have been discharged from hospital. They will continue with outpatient treatment.

Their third son is still in hospital.

The group highlighted the frustration that couple are facing with their travel insurance claims from ACE Insurance.

It said that timely travel insurance disbursements are critical for a family facing extreme difficulties.

When contacted, ACE Asia Pacific said it acknowledges the challenging time the family has been experiencing.

Its vice president & head of communications, Michele Anne Minjoot, told Channel NewsAsia in an email on Wednesday that ACE has been actively trying to contact the family.

She said it had been told to give the family members some space while they grieved.

She added that ACE has not denied any requests of the family and is eager to render all possible assistance to cover its claims.

The group also said the couple expressed their gratitude to those who have been helping and supporting them, including the Singapore High Commission and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Singaporean Muslim community in Melbourne.

The couple also apologised for the lack of contact and updates, as they are exhausted physically and mentally.

"The past two weeks have been extremely difficult. They have to deal with the burial of their youngest son, the injuries of their surviving children who are currently placed in ICU, and not to mention their own injuries," the Melbourne SG Kampong Facebook group said.

— CNA/wm/ck