'I cannot stand the pain - I am leaving'

WASSEIM'S Search FOR PEACE CONTINUES

Wasseim Alsati brought his family to New Zealand from Jordan for a better life.

But just six years on, and days before the first anniversary of the event that upended his world in the most horrific way, Wasseim has fled the city he called home for at least the next few months.

Right now, he says, Christchurch doesn’t feel safe for his children.

Wasseim suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting at Al Noor mosque.

In reports from that time, he recalled throwing himself between the footpath and a car for protection, laying his head on the ground and pretending to be dead.

Strangers bravely rushed to help Wasseim, who was transferred to Auckland for treatment. The father of four underwent surgery to remove shrapnel and bone from his hip socket, and was operated on for a perforated bowel and an injury to his pelvis. He still has shrapnel in his body and continues to have trouble walking.