Thank you to everyone who tried to save boys
HEARTBROKEN FAMILY OF DROWNED TEENAGERS PAY MOVING TRIBUTE
THE family of two brothers who drowned off the coast of St Annes, have paid a heartfelt message of gratitude to the community for their support.
Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali-Athar Shabbir, 16, both tragically lost their lives after getting into difficulty in the water on August 15. Both boys were found a day later around a mile from St Annes Pier.
The incident happened when the brothers, who were both from Dewsbury were last seen close to St Annes Pier in Lytham St Annes on Saturday evening.
Their 15-year-old cousin, also from Dewsbury, managed to swim to the shore.
A huge search was carried out by emergency services, and on Sunday, police confirmed that HM Coastguard and RNLI colleagues found their bodies just after 3.15pm, about a mile from the pier.
The family of the brothers have now issued a special message to the emergency services who helped them that day, including police, RNLI and lifeboat crews, as well as members of the public who tried to find them.
They have also thanked members of their own community who including the schools, local Mosque Masjid Uthman, the Fisabilillah Burial service and neighbours for their support. The statement, on behalf of Muhammad-Azhar and Ali-Athar’s parents, said: “Mr and Mrs Shabbir and their family want to express their greatest thanks and appreciation to everyone that helped them that day.
“This includes the emergency services, Lytham St Annes RNLI, the Southport Lifeboat crew, the Coastguard, police on duty that day, Beth and her husband, who went into the sea to try and find their boys, other members of the public who tried to help them, staff at St Annes Travelodge and the receptionist who paid for additional family that arrived the next day to stay.
“Mr and Mrs Shabbir would also like to thank people in their community, including the schools, for their continuous support with their other children, local Mosque Masjid Uthman, who helped accommodate guests and keep within the social distancing rules, the Fisabilillah Burial service which is also a volunteer and donation run service, neighbours who have put donations together for the RNLI, Muhammad-Azhar and Ali-Athar’s friends who also put together donations to build wells for people without access to water in Muhammed-Azhar and Ali-Athar’s names.”