16/01/2024
Everyone Appeal for community support after the husband was seriously injured when a thief stole his car and ran him over.
𝐌𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: 𝟎𝟐-𝟎𝟓𝟎𝟔-𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟒𝟑𝟕-𝟎𝟎𝟗
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Last Friday night, Muditha Kannangara went to bed looking forward to a much-deserved trip to Rotorua with his wife, Dinushika, and their two daughters, ages 2 and 6. This trip was a celebration of their recent move into a small house in a well-populated area in Howick, Auckland. However, the following morning brought a shocking turn of events.
Around 6:30 am, Muditha was awoken by a noise coming from his driveway. To his disbelief, he saw his vehicle being driven away. In a moment of confusion and urgency, remembering the family trip he had promised, he rushed downstairs, only to discover an intruder trying to steal his car. Muditha tried to stop the thief but was run over in the process. Suffering severe injuries, he was quickly taken to Middlemore Hospital by emergency services. His attempt to stop the theft was unsuccessful, and the thief abandoned the damaged car after the collision.
Muditha has been fortunate to survive, though he has already undergone two surgeries and is still in considerable pain. His family, especially his wife, is now living in fear of another robbery, feeling unsafe at home with their young children.
As the founder of SLNZ Helpline, I have received numerous calls from the concerned community. I met with Muditha's friend, Kasun, who travelled all the way from from Christchurch in hurry to assist the family. Muditha's wife is worried about their safety and needs support during this challenging time. Muditha's recovery process and timeline are still uncertain.
When I spoke with Muditha, he managed to mumble a few words with a great effort and told me that he only confronted the thief because of his plans for the family holiday Saturday morning otherwise, he would not have risked his life. He realizes now that he should have let the police handle the situation. This incident has led to discussions about the outcome if police were called without intervention.
This is not the first incident I am hearing from the community therefore I urge everyone not to confront thieves, whether they are robbing your belongings, intruding into your house, or trying to steal your car. Your life is far more valuable to you and your family than any material possession. It's frustrating to feel helpless in these situations, but Muditha's experience teaches us about the risks and the impact on families and communities. Always report such incidents to the police and let them address the crime.
We also like to thank the NZ Police for quick response in searching for the offender and St Johns Ambulance and hospital staff for their support.
In response to this incident, the community has rallied together to set up a page to assist Muditha's family. Any help you can offer during this difficult time will be greatly appreciated by the family.
Mudi Recovery Fund Account number: 02-0506-0250437-009
There was an article on NZ Herald on the same day too.
- Krishan Gallage (Founder of SLNZ Helpline)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/683572003584560/?multi_permalinks=783511826923910&ref=share
