Tribute paid to ‘bubbly’ taxi driver
A FATHER of eight who died after suffering a stroke while on a taxi driving shift has been remembered as a “humble” family man.
Omar Osman Ali, 49, lived in Butetown, Cardiff, and was working as a taxi driver last Thursday night when he felt unwell just after picking up a fare.
Omar, who had lived in Cardiff for 25 years and had also been working as a security worker with Cardiff council for 11 years, pulled over moments after picking up a passenger, his nephew Abdi Osman said.
“Thursday morning was a normal day, he took his kids to school,” Abdi said of Omar, who has eight children, including six under the age of 10.
“He later decided to go out and work. He picked up a fare and straight away he pulled over because he wasn’t feeling well.”
Abdi said Omar then suffered an aneurysm, which was followed by a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), a rare but lifethreatening type of stroke caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain.
He said Omar then suffered a cardiac arrest.
“His heart stopped for 20 minutes, and then an ambulance arrived and revived him, so he was able to go to hospital.”
But Omar’s condition deteriorated, and he passed away at around midnight on Friday after his heart failed.
Abdi, 23, said Omar, who was originally from Somaliland, was a well-regarded community member in Butetown. He said he had helped develop Butetown Pavilion and was also a prominent member of the local mosque.
Describing his death as “absolutely shocking”, Abdi said his uncle was a “healthy guy, with no underlying conditions”.
“He was such a happy, bubbly guy. He would always say hello to everyone no matter if they were black, white, someone he knew or a total stranger.
“He was a family man, family was so important to him. He had a lot of responsibility, with six children under the age of 10, but he worked two jobs to support them and made sure they always had what they needed, and never lived in any sort of poverty.”
Abdi said Omar had planned to take his partner and children to Somaliland once he’d saved enough money, as he still had family there.
“He loved spending time with his kids. Every single person who came across him, taxi drivers and other colleagues, will tell you how down to earth and humble he was. He was so affable, if you had a problem you’d go to him and he’d always indulge you and listen, no matter what your issue was.
“He was like a second father to me. As my uncle he was always there for me. It’s difficult to put into words,” he added.
Abdi said his family were raising money for charity to build a well in Somaliland.
“Our goal is to have a well built in a very poor area there in Omar’s memory, so he can give continuous charity and good deeds, which will also help him in his afterlife.”