Family’s farewell to tragic brothers
TWO brothers who drowned after being trapped by the tide and swept out to sea have been laid to rest by their heartbroken family.
New details have emerged about their tragic deaths as family members followed their two coffins into the cemetery in Dewsbury.
It is thought that Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16, got into trouble after walking a mile along the beach to the sea.
But they ended up stranded when the tide came in from behind at Lytham St Anne’s on the Lancashire coast.
Their 15-year-old cousin was with them and managed to swim ashore but the brothers were swept away and their bodies found the following afternoon.
The Mayor of Dewsbury, Cllr Mumtaz Hussain led tributes to the young men as their family escorted their two coffins to the cemetery in Dewsbury Moor.
He said: “It’s a terrible tragedy that’s happened.
“It’s very, very sad. I’ve spoken to the family members in the street.
“They are heartbroken and I have no words.
“These two lads were down to earth and everyone said really good things about them.”
About the incident he added: “I was told they walked a mile through the sand to see the sea and then when they got there, the water came round behind them and they were stuck in the middle.
“I was really shocked there was nobody there at that time to
These two lads were down to earth and everyone said really good things about
them
help.
“They were in the wrong time and wrong place. I can’t believe this has actually happened.”
The family, from Dewsbury, said it was an “extremely difficult time” as it emerged Ali had been due to collect his GCSE results which were expected to be good.
“Everyone is absolutely devastated by what has happened to Muhammad Azhar and Ali Athar,” they said in a statement.
“The boys were extremely well liked and a promising future has tragically been cut short.”
The brothers had both studied at
Upper Batley High School.
Headteacher Samantha Vickers said: “We’re absolutely devastated as a community to lose two of our young men.
“I’ve been inundated with messages from staff and students alike. These were two really popular young men, intelligent, respectful, well-mannered and family oriented.
“It’s a huge loss this, people are really reeling from the shock and finding it hard to believe.”