In March, Ashia IsmailSinger was all ready to launch her third cookbook, The Laden Table. The venue was secured, guests were invited and Ashia was putting the finishing touches on the dishes she wanted to serve. But a call from England changed everything.
“At 4.30am on Saturday, March 15, my twin sister, Anjum, called to say Dad had collapsed and it wasn’t looking good,” recalls Ashia, 53. “He’d been fasting because it was Ramadan, but he’d been feeling fine. He went out to do some shopping and put petrol in the car, got home, opened the gate and collapsed. He didn’t even make it to the door.”
A passer-by saw Hamid, 81, on the ground and alerted Ashia’s mum Zarina, 71, who called an ambulance. By the time it arrived, the whole family was present – sort of.
“I’m in New Zealand – Mum, Dad, Anjum and my youngest sister Nishat live in England, and my other sister Farah is in Abu Dhabi,” explains Ashia, whose husband Graham was away on a fishing trip at the time. “We went on FaceTime so we could all see what was going on.
“We watched the paramedics do CPR on him for half an hour, but Dad had already passed. It was so harrowing.”
Denne historien er fra Jun 3, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Jun 3, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills