Home
Latest news
North West news
UK news
World news
Business news
Education news
News features
The Last Bit
PA news feed
PA video feed
Site Map
Search Advanced Search
Latest news  RSS Feed RSS feed | About
EDITOR'S CHOICE
DEAR MASSI
EVENTS
THE LAST BIT
FEATURES
SPORT
FILM TRAILERS
Sneak previews of current and upcoming blockbusters. Click here.


VOTE
What do you think has happened to Osama Bin Laden?
Dead
Alive
Captured
GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL
Most read Comments
Father speaks of grief

The devastated father of a seven-year-old boy killed when part of a wall fell on him has spoken following the tragedy.

Mustafa Altaf had been climbing on the wall with his cousins when a concrete ball on top of a pillar broke off and struck him on the head.

Hundreds visited the Makkah Mosque in Rishton Lane, Bolton, to pay their respects to the youngster.

The accident happened at the home of one of Mustafa's uncles in Nugent Road, Great Lever.

His family rushed him to hospital but he had suffered severe head injuries and doctors were unable to save him.

His parents, Majad and Fareen Altaf, of Kingsland Road, Farnworth, are said to be devastated by what happened.

Mustafa has a younger sister, Iyma, aged five, and brother Murteza, aged four.

Mustafa's father, Majad, said: "There is no blame. It was just a tragic, tragic accident."

He said he has accepted "God's decision" to take Mustafa, but urged parents to look out for their children.

"Please, please look after your kids. Children are innocent, so look after them.

"Don't take your eye off them for 24 hours a day."

"He's always been busy in the house. He loved doing things and helping people.

"On the day he died, his teachers had told me he was very caring and that he was doing very well in school.

"I want to be strong for my other kids now."

One of Mustafa's uncles, Shakeel Iqbal, aged 36, said: "We were all inside when the accident happened, but from what we understand, Mustafa and his cousins were playing outside on the wall.

"He slipped and somehow the part of the wall fell on him and hit him on the head.

"He was a very happy and playful boy and enjoyed football.

"This was a tragic accident and the whole family and friends are very upset."

Teachers at Mustafa's school, St William of York RC Primary, broke the news to pupils at the start of school, when children remembered him in prayers before class.

Headteacher Gerardine Babb said Mustafa had been a pupil there for more than three years, since joining the nursery. "He was a lovely, happy boy who enjoyed life," she said last night.

"Children remember him as a good friend and a good defender at football.

"Staff will remember Mustafa as always having a lovely smile, always trying his best and having a zest for life.

9:06am Monday 12th May 2008

Print   Email this   Comment
Add your comment
Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
Security Image. Registered site users are not required to enter Security Image Information.
 
 e.g. 123-123
Comment:
Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored.
Format Text:

 
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed
** To avoid register now or login
Archive
MEDIA PACK
Advertising Information
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy © Copyright 2001-2008
Newsquest Media Group
A Gannett Company
This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network