‘Selfless’ charity worker killed in horror car crash
A CHARITY worker killed in a car crash in south Manchester had recently returned from helping Syrian refugees.
Tributes have been paid to Owess Munir, who died when his car ploughed into a tree on Princess Parkway in the early hours of yesterday.
The ‘selfless’ 23-year-old was described as a ‘true humanitarian who devoted his life to serve those in need.’
Mr Munir, from Cardiff, was in Manchester attending a charity fundraising event when the grey Lexus IS 220 he was driving left the carriageway and smashed into a tree at around 12.25am.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the scene, near to the junction of Palatine Road in Northenden, but Mr Munir was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three men who were passengers in the vehicle were taken to hospital with various injuries and the road was closed for several hours.
Mr Munir had worked as a volunteer and staff member for the international aid and development charity Islamic Relief for seven years.
As the charity’s Wales regional community fundraising and volunteer officer, Mr Munir ‘worked tirelessly’ across Wales and the south west of England to establish volunteer networks and further the charitable work of Islamic Relief.
Charity spokesman Sultan Ahmed said staff and volunteers were ‘devastated’ and offered ‘sincere and heartfelt condolences and prayers’ to his parents and younger siblings.
He said: “He wasn’t just a member of the team, but our little brother, a beloved and valued member of the missed’. Main image: Seen in February delivering blankets in Jordan Islamic Relief family. He is known within the Islamic Relief family as someone who will always go the extra mile for you and would never say no.”
Mr Munir started volunteering with Islamic Relief in 2011, aged just 16. He got involved in the Cakes 4 Syria Campaign, street collections, fundraising dinners and raising funds for several emergencies.
He was a staff member in the fundraising team since 2016. In February, Mr Munir travelled to Jordan to help Islamic Relief deliver blankets and warm clothing to Syrian refugees.
“He has always shown extreme dedication to charitable causes, both overseas and in his home town of Cardiff, and has touched so many people’s lives,” Mr Ahmed said.
He added: “Owess was very popular with all his colleagues, and was well known for his infectious positivity. He always went out of his way to make volunteers feel supported and loved. He was a true humanitarian who devoted his life to serve those in need and to inspire young and old to do the same.
“Owess worked very hard for Islamic Relief, but also found time to support many other organisations in his spare time. In fact, shortly before his tragic accident, Owess had travelled to Manchester to help with a fundraising event hosted by another charity. This sums up Owess; he would go out of his way to support people doing good work for those in need. He was a selfless person who leaves this world having made his mark on so many people’s lives around the world. He will be sorely missed, but fondly remembered.”
Anyone with information about the crash can call police on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident number 42 of September 3, 2018.