PASIR MAS: A father rushed to a paddy field and cradled his 14-year-old son after learning that the boy had been struck by lightning, only to find that he was already dead.
"When I was told that Ziad had been struck by lightning, I rushed to the paddy field and cradled him, but my son was already dead," said Abdul Hadi Abdul Ghani, 60.
His son, Muhammad Ziad Zikri, a Form Two student, was killed by lightning while fishing at a paddy field in Kampung Tasek Berangan at 4.30pm today.
Recounting the incident, Hadi said he had been asleep at home when his youngest of five children went fishing with a friend and cousin.
"I was shocked when my nephew, who was fishing with Ziad, ran home and told me that my son had been struck by lightning.
"We rushed to the scene, about two kilometres from our house. By then, my other children had arrived and were trying to wake Ziad, thinking he had only fainted.
"I cradled Ziad, but he was already gone. We took him to Pasir Mas Hospital to confirm his death," he told reporters at his home tonight.
He said the incident was a shock as Ziad had left home at 4pm in good health, only to be brought home lifeless.
"Although we are grieving, we accept what happened as Allah's will.
"Ziad was a very good and obedient son. He was cheerful and always willing to help the family.
"His favourite pastimes were fishing and catching birds every evening," he said.
Ziad was a student at SMK Sri Kiambang here. Hadi said his son had attended school as usual and gone to his Quran class before heading out to fish.
"Last night, we talked and I reminded Ziad to attend his Quran classes regularly as preparation for the hereafter.
"He used to attend the classes occasionally and needed to be reminded, but today he went without being told after returning from school," he said.
Ziad's body is expected to be buried tomorrow morning.
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