A London schoolboy was killed as he cycled to the shops to collect a cake for his birthday party, the London Evening Standard reports.
Nahid Islam, 15, was cycling close to a zebra crossing near his home in Belsize Park, north London, on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by an oncoming motorcycle.
Paramedics tried to save him at the roadside but the Regent High School pupil was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple injuries at 2.40pm.
Devastated family members told the Evening Standard the “loveable” teenager had been hurrying to meet his mother to help bring home the cake for his 16th birthday party the following afternoon.
Scores of friends and relatives gathered on Sunday night for a vigil at the junction on Malden Road and Queen’s Crescent, near the family’s home, which has been covered in floral tributes, candles and birthday balloons.
Nahid’s father, Mohammed Fokrul Islam, 50, said he “would never forget” his cricket-loving son and proudly spoke of how the teenager had already memorised the Qur’an.
His older brother, Sunny Rahman, a 21-year-old student, said: “He was the best little brother, he was loved by everyone.
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“No one would had a bad word to say about him never once saw him angry in his entire life.”
Family members described how Nahid’s mother, Sultana Begum, was in a state of shock after following a crowd of people to the junction to see her youngest son lying in the middle of the road.
His cousin, Lupa Kazi, 19, said: “She fainted. She’s not eating or anything, she’s in such a state.
“He was a mummy’s boy. He was someone you could rely on – he always put other people before himself.
“All his school friends came down and were crying and saying ‘We can’t imagine history lessons without him.’”
Prayers were said on Sunday at the nearby Baitul Amman mosque.
A Met police spokesman said: “Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to the collision, to contact police.
“In particular, officers are keen to trace a white Vauxhall Mokka which stopped at a pedestrian crossing just in front of where the collision occurred. This car was not involved in the collision but the occupants may have seen what happened.”
The motorcyclist stopped at the scene and was not injured in the crash. There have been no arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Charlie Pulling on 020 8991 9555.
