Like many others, Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui had many plans for himself and his family up until Friday, March 15 when he was struck down with a bullet on his left arm that not just shattered the bones and nerves of his body, but also his future plans as he has been declared unfit for work, even a year after the incident.
Mr Siddiqui dreamed of buying a business here in New Zealand after spending 20 years in the country, but his prospects came to a naught as he could no longer work with his severely injured left hand and thus living on the money received by ACC.
A taxi driver by profession, Mr Siddiqui lives just 150 metres from Al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue, Christchurch and went to make his Friday prayers just like any other week. Usually, his wife and children accompany him to the mosque, but due to some health reasons, Mr Siddiqui’s wife could not make it to the mosque and his son was about to leave his house for the mosque.
When the shooting started, Mr Siddiqui managed to escape after breaking the glass of a window and returned after a few minutes thinking the shooter might have left. He called his wife and informed of the shooting at the mosque and asked her not to let his son come there. While on the call with his wife, he returned inside the mosque hoping it was over when the shooter returned after reloading his weapon, apparently, and shot him from the door. The bullet pierced his left elbow from the side, and he fell on the ground on his face.
A few minutes later, he got up seeing his bloodied jacket and arm with shattered bones jutting out. He took off his t-shirt and tied it on to his bicep to stem the bleed while he described the scene to his wife. He was then approached by the police who walked him outside the mosque and then subsequently to the hospital for treatment.
“Twelve months have passed since the incident, and I have been deemed still unfit for work that has created a tremendous financial strain on my family and me,” he said. Mr Siddiqui and his family were fortunate enough to be a part of the 200 member trip to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage on the invitation of the Saudi Prince.
He and the family travelled to India to meet his relatives earlier in December 2019, but the family is still coming to the terms of both financial and psychological strain.
His left-hand fingers have started losing sensation lately, as he recently reported the symptoms at the neurology department in Christchurch. Even after three surgeries, the doctors have said he might not be able to work and do regular activities until he gets fit, which will take another two years.
Mr Siddiqui hopes that he will get back on his feet soon as his wife is unable to work on health grounds, his work as a taxi driver has stopped for a year now. The only respite he has now are some savings, help from the community and ACC coverage he receives as rent and basic expenses.
The family, although suffering from the trauma have come closer to each other and have started contemplating the fragility of life and also trying to get more closer with the creator.
Mr Siddiqui and his family appreciate the community, not just in Christchurch but from across New Zealand who came forward and shared their grief and poured mountains of flowers for the victims and their families last year.
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