Muhammad, 14, tragic victim of a workplace accident
Muhammad, 14, was crushed to death when he overturned a wheel loader at his summer job. For several hours, his father Motaz searched for his son in the rain. ”There is nothing in the world that can bring our son back,” he says.
On Monday, Motaz and his wife received a nightmare message – their oldest child had died. 14-year-old Muhammad died after a workplace accident at his summer job on a farm outside Ulricehamn. He was caught under a small wheel loader that he was driving.
”Dreamed of becoming a police officer”
Muhammad was a calm and shy boy who liked to spend time with his friends. He was really looking forward to his first summer job on the farm, a big step for him. Finally, he would be able to earn his own money, his father tells. ”He was very proud of earning his own money. He bought a Playstation 5 with his first salary, but he only got to play twice. He also ordered new clothes for the start of school, but the clothes are still on their way.”
In his free time, Muhammad liked to swim. He liked school and had big dreams. The future looked bright. ”Just a few days before his death, he told his mother that he wanted to become a police officer. He looked up to them and dreamed of one day being part of the police force.”
”Just started to scream”
On the morning of August 10, Muhammad cycled to work as usual. He was supposed to finish at 4:00 p.m. But by noon, he still hadn’t come home. ”We saved some food for him, thinking he would be home soon.”
But Muhammad didn’t come home. It was raining outside and the worry started to grow in the family. Around 8:00 p.m., Motaz called the employer who asked to call back. ”40 minutes passed and we still didn’t know anything. We were very worried. I went to the workplace but found no one there. I went home again and asked if Muhammad had come home, but he hadn’t.”
Around 10:00 p.m., Motaz got hold of the employer’s son. They drove together in the car when the son suddenly received a phone call. ”Go home, the police will soon come to your house,” the son said to me. I still didn’t know anything but felt the worry grow even more.”
Motaz parked the car and went out into the rain in despair. Suddenly, a police car stopped by him. ”They asked if I’m Muhammad’s father. They said he is dead, and I just started screaming. Then I ran home and told my wife.”
Investigated as a workplace crime
Two days after the accident, the employer and priests visited the family. ”The employer said he takes full responsibility, that he is ready for whatever we want, but there is nothing in the world that can bring our son back. He also said that Muhammad himself wanted to drive the wheel loader. The police have conducted a technical investigation. There is suspicion of workplace crime.”
”I don’t really understand how someone allows a child to drive a wheel loader, something that requires training. Even if the child wants to, you have to say ’no’,” says Motaz. ”The whole family is extremely distressed. His mother keeps looking at his bike and saying ’Muhammad is home, he is here now’. I’m trying to be strong for her, but it’s difficult for all of us.”
Magnus Clase at the National Unit for Environmental and Occupational Crimes is the prosecutor in the case. ”We are trying to find out what happened. Technicians have been on site, and vehicle technicians will examine the vehicle to see if anything was wrong and how we can proceed,” he said earlier to Aftonbladet.
