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KEPALA BATAS, 21 Feb – The remains of 10-year-old Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin, who tragically choked on gummy bears, were safely buried at the Permatang Binjai Jamek Mosque Islamic Cemetery, Penaga, this afternoon.
A crowd of over 150 worshippers gathered at the mosque for the funeral prayers at 2.45 pm before accompanying the young boy’s body to his final resting place. The somber atmosphere was further intensified by a light drizzle, as family members, friends, teachers, and villagers bid farewell to the eldest of two siblings.
Final Journey from Hospital to Home
Earlier, the van carrying Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz’s body departed from the Penang Hospital (HPP) Forensic Department and arrived at his paternal grandmother’s house at 2.20 pm. His grandmother, Siti Amin Ismail, 61, along with other family members, gathered to receive his remains before he was laid to rest.
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The post-mortem examination at HPP’s Forensic Medicine Department commenced at 9 am and was completed by noon. Following this, his body was cleansed and shrouded according to Islamic rites before being sent home for the final prayers.
Father Accepts Fate, Hopes for Awareness
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz’s father, Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohamad Fikri, 35, chose not to place blame on anyone, including the seller of the gummy sweets.
“He never bought or ate sweets like that before. Maybe he followed his friends to buy them. But I do not want to blame anyone, nor do I blame the food. We accept this as fate. I just hope this tragedy serves as a lesson to all parents to be more mindful of what their children consume,” he shared after the funeral.
A Life Cut Short
Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz, a Year Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Dua, Butterworth, reportedly purchased two gummy sweets before attending his Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) class at 2.30 pm last Tuesday. He later fell into critical condition after allegedly choking on the candy and was rushed to the Penang Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his condition at approximately 11 pm last night.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a crucial reminder for parents and caregivers to monitor children’s food choices, particularly small and chewy snacks that could pose choking hazards. – BERNAMA