Drowned father of five was a good swimmer, family says
The tragic revelation that the drowned father of five, who lost his life at the Manukau harbour last weekend was an able swimmer, had an athletic regimen and a regular to the beach, is once again a stark reminder of the limitation of man’s physical power over that of nature.
Speaking to the family of the deceased 40-year-old Imtiaz Aziz, The Indian Weekender learned that Mr Aziz was a very good swimmer, athletic and was regular to the Awhitu Regional Park beach for fishing with his family.
Despite being athletic and familiar with the location, Mr Aziz succumbed to the might of the sea and left back only memories to cherish.
The Fiji Indian community in South Auckland is mourning the death of Mr Aziz who was known as a ‘humble family man’ in the community.
Mr Aziz was with his two children, a son and a daughter when got trapped in the rising tide, sparking a water rescue by the lifeguards.
"He was a lovely person, very humble,” brother-in-law of the deceased, Ishrar Mohammed told The Indian Weekender.
Mr Aziz had five children, two of whom were with him and his wife at the beach where they had gone for fishing.
“Imtiaz was a good swimmer and so were his children. He has another child coming in a few months. He has been in that area fishing several times in the past, at times even I have accompanied him to go fishing there,” Mr Mohammed said.
“It was unfortunate that rising tides suddenly pulled them deep into the sea and got them into trouble. The whole community is shaken by this news of the demise,” Mr Mohammed added.
“Mr Aziz had contributed a lot to the community work and was closely associated with the Masjid-at-Taqwa in Manukau doing dawah work for the community.
“He was very much dedicated to his community work and spreading the word of Islam and true teachings of the religion to the community.
“Mr Aziz was bought up in Fiji and came to New Zealand in 1990. He studied at Waikato University and worked as a software engineer.
“Aziz was a kind person", a talented golfer and a dedicated Muslim, Mr Mohammed told The Indian Weekender.
"He enjoyed being outdoors and spending quality time with his family, and they were camping when the accident happened,” Mr Mohammed lamented.
Father of five Imtiaz Aziz drowns at South Auckland beach
It is understood the trio had made their way by foot to Kauritutahi Island, about 200m offshore, to fish at low tide, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) spokesman Lincoln Davies told media.
The trio got caught in the incoming waves to the shore.
A woman, who didn’t want to be named was strolling down the beach with her partner when a woman came running to them asking they could swim.
The woman mentioned that the lady in distress asked help as her husband and two kids were caught up in the waves and drifted them deep into trouble.
Since the trio was swept too far to swim into, the woman flagged a man on Jetski to rescue them.
“The little boy was on top of dad as he couldn't swim," the woman told Stuff.co.nz.
The woman said she waited with the man's wife and other children as the girl, aged eight, made it safely to shore.
A couple of kayakers made their way out to the father and son, and the jet ski driver pulled them to shore, she said.
“The jetski driver pulled the boy out of the water and then the dad, he was unconscious."
The family were not wearing lifejackets, she said.
The man was given CPR when Westpac’s two crew arrived, but the man could not be revived.
The children were pulled out before the rescue helicopter arrived and were flown to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.
Masjid at-Taqwa in Manukau in its Facebook post on Monday, February 05 announced the funeral arrangement news to the public.
Mr Aziz’s funeral prayer was held at the Masjid at-Taqwa in Manukau at 7 p.m. on Monday, followed by burial ceremony in the At-Taqwa section of the Puhinui Memorial Gardens.
“We pray to Allah Azzawajal to grant him the highest stages of Jannah Jannatul Firdaus, and in this critical time, May Allah grant his young family strength and patience,” Facebook post of Masjid at-Taqwa said.
The tragic revelation that the drowned father of five, who lost his life at the Manukau harbour last weekend was an able swimmer, had an athletic regimen and a regular to the beach, is once again a stark reminder of the limitation of man’s physical power over that of nature.
Speaking to the family...
The tragic revelation that the drowned father of five, who lost his life at the Manukau harbour last weekend was an able swimmer, had an athletic regimen and a regular to the beach, is once again a stark reminder of the limitation of man’s physical power over that of nature.
Speaking to the family of the deceased 40-year-old Imtiaz Aziz, The Indian Weekender learned that Mr Aziz was a very good swimmer, athletic and was regular to the Awhitu Regional Park beach for fishing with his family.
Despite being athletic and familiar with the location, Mr Aziz succumbed to the might of the sea and left back only memories to cherish.
The Fiji Indian community in South Auckland is mourning the death of Mr Aziz who was known as a ‘humble family man’ in the community.
Mr Aziz was with his two children, a son and a daughter when got trapped in the rising tide, sparking a water rescue by the lifeguards.
"He was a lovely person, very humble,” brother-in-law of the deceased, Ishrar Mohammed told The Indian Weekender.
Mr Aziz had five children, two of whom were with him and his wife at the beach where they had gone for fishing.
“Imtiaz was a good swimmer and so were his children. He has another child coming in a few months. He has been in that area fishing several times in the past, at times even I have accompanied him to go fishing there,” Mr Mohammed said.
“It was unfortunate that rising tides suddenly pulled them deep into the sea and got them into trouble. The whole community is shaken by this news of the demise,” Mr Mohammed added.
“Mr Aziz had contributed a lot to the community work and was closely associated with the Masjid-at-Taqwa in Manukau doing dawah work for the community.
“He was very much dedicated to his community work and spreading the word of Islam and true teachings of the religion to the community.
“Mr Aziz was bought up in Fiji and came to New Zealand in 1990. He studied at Waikato University and worked as a software engineer.
“Aziz was a kind person", a talented golfer and a dedicated Muslim, Mr Mohammed told The Indian Weekender.
"He enjoyed being outdoors and spending quality time with his family, and they were camping when the accident happened,” Mr Mohammed lamented.
Father of five Imtiaz Aziz drowns at South Auckland beach
It is understood the trio had made their way by foot to Kauritutahi Island, about 200m offshore, to fish at low tide, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) spokesman Lincoln Davies told media.
The trio got caught in the incoming waves to the shore.
A woman, who didn’t want to be named was strolling down the beach with her partner when a woman came running to them asking they could swim.
The woman mentioned that the lady in distress asked help as her husband and two kids were caught up in the waves and drifted them deep into trouble.
Since the trio was swept too far to swim into, the woman flagged a man on Jetski to rescue them.
“The little boy was on top of dad as he couldn't swim," the woman told Stuff.co.nz.
The woman said she waited with the man's wife and other children as the girl, aged eight, made it safely to shore.
A couple of kayakers made their way out to the father and son, and the jet ski driver pulled them to shore, she said.
“The jetski driver pulled the boy out of the water and then the dad, he was unconscious."
The family were not wearing lifejackets, she said.
The man was given CPR when Westpac’s two crew arrived, but the man could not be revived.
The children were pulled out before the rescue helicopter arrived and were flown to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.
Masjid at-Taqwa in Manukau in its Facebook post on Monday, February 05 announced the funeral arrangement news to the public.
Mr Aziz’s funeral prayer was held at the Masjid at-Taqwa in Manukau at 7 p.m. on Monday, followed by burial ceremony in the At-Taqwa section of the Puhinui Memorial Gardens.
“We pray to Allah Azzawajal to grant him the highest stages of Jannah Jannatul Firdaus, and in this critical time, May Allah grant his young family strength and patience,” Facebook post of Masjid at-Taqwa said.
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