The parents of two children killed in an accident in Australia said they forgave the driver, but hoped the vehicle had hit them instead.
The incident took place on a busy highway in south-west Sydney, when two children, identified as Katherine, five, and Harry, 14 months, were killed when an SUV collided with a pram shortly after school pick-up on Wednesday.
The elder of the two children was due to get an award on Friday, revealed Vundy Tha, the father of the children, as they grieved the loss.
They thanked the community for their efforts to save the children after the accident.
“Everyone tried to save them … I love them more than my life,” said the 33-year-old mother, Sok Ram. “I think about when the car came … I wish it hit me, not my baby and daughter,” she told 9 News.
Katherine and Harry were hit by a car at the intersection of Joseph and Gilbert Street while being pushed in a pram by their mother when they were on their way home from Cabramatta West Public School.
The children were rushed to the Westmead Hospital with critical injuries where they died. The mother suffered minor injuries.
The 56-year-old driver, who was uninjured, was detained and taken to the hospital for mandatory testing but was later released without a charge.
While the matter is still under investigation, the investigators believe it to be an accident and that criminal charges were unlikely.
“We forgive everything,” said the father, understanding that it was not intentional.
It was “one of the most confronting scenes” police have seen, said Superintendent Tim Calman. He appreciated the community response in the providing the immediate help, calling it “phenomenal”, as multiple motorist stopped to get the children, while onlookers performed CPR, reported 9 News.
“We’ve had a number of motorists that actually stopped and have collectively moved the vehicle on its side … to get one of the children from underneath the vehicle.”
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone called the incident “a tragedy for the community”.
“Two young, innocent lives have been lost … I feel for the mother, I feel for the whole family,” he said.
“It’s something that we can all feel the sorrow for through our own children. Today, the Fairfield community mourns for their loss.”
The father, speaking about the incident, said: “I can’t describe it, last night I couldn’t sleep.”
“Nothing can change, you know? Nothing can change. I couldn’t get my kid back,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“Why my kid die? Why, please, I hope it hit me, not my baby,” said the mother. “I feel my life is success but now empty. Nothing, nothing to me now. I can’t do anything.
“I don’t want anything. I want only my kids. My daughter, my son, my life.”
Katherine was “smart” and was to get an award at school on Friday, said Mr Tha.
An NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the affected staff and students of the school community are being provided support.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that has affected the local community and share their grief.”
Meanwhile, an online fundraiser set up for the family by a friend, Patrick Te, has raised more than AUD$201,000 (£106,000) to support them through an “unimaginable” period.
He said the life of the two young children were taken in “a split second”.
“I am absolutely devastated … a mother not only lost a child, she lost both of her children, her only two children,” Mr Te said.
“As I sit here at Westmead Children’s Hospital looking at these two precious souls and their mother, it is extremely difficult to comprehend.
“As a parent myself, I cannot even begin to fathom the long road ahead for both the mother and father. Regardless of who is at fault, their journey to recovery will be incredibly difficult.
“They deserve all the help they can get.”
