Girl survives Kerala crash that killed parents after switching cars

A six-year-old girl has miraculously survived a tragic road accident in Kerala that claimed the lives of her parents and aunt, thanks to a last-minute decision to switch vehicles. The family was returning to Thrissur after attending a function and visiting a beach in Kozhikode.

The fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Friday in the Malappuram district. Shafid Ebrahim, 40, an interior designer based in Dubai, was driving the car when it collided with a lorry parked on the roadside in the Kohinoor area. Heavy rain and poor visibility are suspected to have contributed to the accident.

According to reports, the family had stopped for tea about 30 minutes before the crash. During this break, Shafid's daughter, Sanfa Fatima, moved to a second vehicle carrying her grandmother, uncle, and cousins. Shafid, his wife Shahina Shafid, 32, and her cousin Jahana Sherin, 26, remained in the first car, which subsequently met with the fatal accident.

News of the tragedy sent shockwaves through the UAE's Indian expatriate community. Thomas Thiruvalla, a Dubai-based businessman and film producer, remembered Shafid, who had worked with his company for 13 years, as a dedicated professional who always radiated positivity. "He was more than an employee. He treated everyone with warmth and respect. It is difficult to believe he is no longer with us," Thomas told Gulf News.

Shafid had traveled to Kerala on May 25 for a month-long vacation coinciding with the Eid holidays and was scheduled to return to Dubai on June 25. Thomas flew to Kerala to support the grieving family, and the funeral was reportedly delayed until his arrival. The victims were laid to rest in their hometown. Visuals from local media showed the vehicle completely mangled after the impact.

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He was more than an employee. He treated everyone with warmth and respect. It is difficult to believe he is no longer with us.