A 13-year-old British boy is stuck in a Turkish hospital after he survived a horror holiday bus crash that killed his mum, and big sister.
Hassan Mahmood, from Wembley, northwest London, was enjoying a family holiday in Antalya, south Turkey, with his mum Samina, 47, and 21-year-old sister Hafza.
But the minibus they were travelling on with 22 other passengers had crashed on June 14, My London reported.
Hassan’s cousin, Sofie Akbar, 30, said that his sister died immediately in the crash and Samina was rushed to hospital but despite the best efforts of medics she died as a result of her injuries as well.
Sofie said that Hassan only narrowly survived the crash and has already had multiple operations for his injuries.
Despite this, he could remain in hospital for another six months as he needs intensive ongoing care. "We were just so grateful that he survived," Sofie said.
Sofie, who normally spends the whole summer with her cousins, described Samina as an unconditionally loving auntie who was "full of life," and Hafza as "such a gentle soul," and said her uncle is a broken man after losing his wife and daughter.
Sofie said the family were a week into their 10-day holiday, and were on a day-long group excursion returning to their hotel, when their coach crashed.
She added: "What I’ve been told is that the driver possibly fell asleep on his way back, hit a central bollard on a dual carriageway and the coach flipped over”.
Five people died in total as a result of the crash including the driver, and one woman remains in critical condition.
Two family friends who were also in the bus survived, but one woman has had to have her arm amputated from the shoulder down.
As he didn’t like travelling, Hassan’s father didn’t join his family on holiday and learned of their deaths when police knocked on his door in the middle of the night.
Hassan’s older brother Hamza, 25, also stayed behind.
Sofie said her uncle was "so protective" of his children, and would make everyone laugh by insisting on holding their hands to cross the road, even when they were adults.
"It’s like his life has just absolutely evaporated in a second," she said. " He is an absolutely broken man."
Sofie and her cousins visited Hassan in hospital last Wednesday (June 22), after flying out to Turkey as soon as possible.
She said: "He was asleep at first and then sort of woke up and doesn’t really remember the accident itself.
"He remembers what happened on the holiday but nothing of the accident."
Sofie said Hassan "still had muck on his face and his hands" from when the bus crashed, but can't remember the accident.
She added he "told me he’d just been for a walk with his mum and his sister".
The doctors have told Sofie's family her cousin is now stable enough to fly, but they are having to crowdfund to get him home, as his family had no insurance and he will need to travel in a private air ambulance.
Sofie said the family were not well off and the bill for Hasan's treatment increased between £600 and £1000 every single day he was in hospital.
Samina is the third sister Sofie's mum has lost in the space of eight months. She said: "My auntie was just full of life, her love towards us was unconditional."
"Hafza was such a gentle soul, that's the only way I can describe her. The most gentle person I have ever known.
"Hassan is very close to my brothers. My brother saw him at the hospital too, and he was so happy to see him. He didn't want us to leave.
"They were pretty much perfect as a family, the most loving people, kind people, that we’ve ever met."
"We're aware of the conditions of the drivers, they're overworked and it's tourist season. If this can help anyone or prevent another accident, that would be incredible. It could save a family."
