NZ massacre survivor looks forward to a more joyous Raya

 

Rahimi Ahmad and the pillar of his strength, his wife Nor Azila Abd Wahid, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

PETALING JAYA: Life is beginning to pick up again for Rahimi Ahmad, 42, three years after he played dead in a New Zealand mosque in order to survive a gunman’s assault.

Rahimi’s quick thinking most likely spared him, although it came with a life-changing cost. Bullet fragments left him paralyzed on his right leg, and injured his spine, kidney and bladder.

“My life and that of my family changed completely after that. There was nothing festive about Aidilfitri after that,” Rahimi told FMT from Christchurch.

The last three Raya holidays were spent with numerous trips to the hospital for physiotherapy.

Rahimi’s eldest son, Ahmad Razif, 14, who was with him during the Christchurch massacre is still traumatised by the incident, he told FMT.

Razif is currently undergoing counselling.

Rahimi undergoes physiotherapy at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.

The mosque attack by white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant left 51 people dead. Tarrant, who streamed the mass murder on social media, was sentenced to a life term without parole in 2020.

Rahimi’s wife, Nor Azila Abd Wahid, said she was forced to turn down a job at the University of Canterbury so she could manage her family.

“It’s so different from when we first moved to New Zealand in 2014. Back then we baked “kuih raya” and visited fellow Malaysians in Christchurch,” said Rahimi, who hails from Bayan Lepas, Penang.

After three years of treatment and recovery, Rahimi is on the mend and can now go about on his wheelchair without relying on others.

Rahimi and his family were paid a visit by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William.

He attributes his recovery to his wife, whom he calls his “backbone”.

“Without her, it would have been difficult for me and my children to heal (from this tragedy).”

Rahimi and his family intend to celebrate Hari Raya this year the way they used to before.

They have had their ‘baju Raya’ made and delivered to them from Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern also visited Rahimi and his family in hospital.

Last year’s Raya wardrobe was rather mundane, he said.

“This time round we want it to be festive, especially after three years (since the attack happened). We’re getting stronger.”

Rahimi and his family are pleased with the amount of support they have received, especially from the New Zealand government while he was undergoing treatment in Christchurch.

He said Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern had paid him a visit. -  FMT