The family of a Tesco security guard who remains critically ill in hospital after choking while on duty has spoken of their devastation. Mohamed Nassar, 58, was working at the Tesco Express store in Salford, near Manchester city centre, on Friday, May 8, when the tragic incident occurred.
Incident Details
According to his family, Mr. Nassar was on a break when he began choking on a doughnut and suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics attended the scene and eventually managed to resuscitate him. However, his heart stopped for a total of 23 minutes, and his heartbroken loved ones have been told he has been left severely brain damaged as a result, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Family's Reaction
Father-of-three Mohamed, along with his family, relocated to Manchester from London in 2020 and now lives in Ardwick. Formerly a musician, he is employed by a third-party security firm for which he has worked for approximately five years. His 23-year-old son, Seif Abdelwaneis, said his mother, Nancy Elkarnshawy, and his sisters, Nariman, 28, and Malak, 14, were left in a state of shock when they received a telephone call informing them of his collapse.
“It was very emotional finding this out,” Seif said. “Especially for my mum, she was crying a lot. We went straight to the hospital.”
Current Medical Condition
Mohamed is currently on life support in intensive care, where he is undergoing tests to establish the extent of his brain damage. Doctors have informed his family that it will be ‘very difficult’ for him to survive, Seif said. His family are maintaining a constant vigil at his bedside at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI).
Tribute from Son
Seif described his father as “the kindest person”. He said: “He would do anything to help people. He’s very outgoing, very social. All the customers know him and have a good relationship with him. He’s known for helping them and carrying their bags and things like that. But more than anything he’s a very loving dad. He cares so deeply about his family. All his friends and colleagues have said that, that all he ever talked about was us. He spent so much time with my little sister. He had also become a grandad as well and loved that.”
Financial Support
Mohamed was the family’s sole breadwinner, and a GoFundMe page has been established to assist in supporting them financially as they navigate “the most devastating time of their lives”. “The impact on us is really huge,” Seif added.
Store Manager's Statement
Osarugue Onaghise, manager of the Manchester Bailey Tesco Express store, said: “On behalf of all our colleagues at our Manchester Bailey Express store, we remain deeply saddened by this tragic incident and our thoughts are with Mohamed and his family at this difficult time.”
