The family of a young boy who was killed after becoming trapped in a garage door have left heart-wrenching tributes for the “energetic” nine-year-old who was “loved by everyone”.
Abdul Razack Tarawaley, 9, is believed to have been playing with a friend in the Newport, west Melbourne apartment complex where he lived when he was crushed by the automatic door.
The young boy was found by his father, who shares the same name as him, who had gone to check on him while playing.
A GoFundMe has now been set up on behalf of Abdul’s family, who said his death was caused by a “split second accident”.
“He is our son who we loved dearly and miss him so much,” the fundraiser reads.
“Junior was commonly known by everyone and was an energetic young boy who was loved by everyone in his school and the community at large.
“The passing of our son have caused us sadness and trauma that is going to be felt forever, as he was our only child.”
The GoFundMe has raised almost $6000 in two days.
Mr Razack Tarawaley said he found his son trapped at the top of the garage door while he was playing hide and seek.
“I tried to pull down the gate but I can’t because it’s too big, it’s too heavy,” he told the Herald Sun.
“I touched his head, I touched his fingers, all is cold.”
Emergency services were called to reports two boys were trapped in the door on Mason St about 7.30pm on Saturday.
Abdul was treated at the scene but could not be saved.
The second child, who has not yet been identified, was taken to Royal Children’s Hospital in a serious condition.
Mr Tarawaley told reporters at the home on Sunday that his son was just weeks from his 10th birthday and dreamt of being a doctor.
“He touched our life,” he said.
“I miss him so much. Even in school, he was the smartest. He loved to play soccer.
“It’s really hard. The grief is real, my only child, we have nobody else.”
Tributes flowed on Mr Tarawaley’s Facebook page on Sunday, with hundreds of people sharing their sympathies since the tragic accident.
One shared their love for “Junior” and thanked him for “so many memories”.
“My heart aches with such sudden news. Finding it so difficult to believe. You’ll forever be in my heart my Ju,” they wrote.
Another wrote: “It is very painful. I’m just in shock, pain and grief.”
Abdul’s uncle told reporters the family were incensed to find there did not appear to be any safety mechanism on the garage door that could have prevented the boy’s death.
“The door only had a button to go up and down and where the button is placed is reachable to kids,” he said.
“There is no proper safety measures.”
An investigation is under way into the circumstances of the tragic accident.
Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.
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