Tributes to 'best dad' killed by tree during storm

The family of a Birmingham man killed by a falling tree during Storm Darragh have paid tribute to the "best dad that anyone could ever wish for."

Kahir Shahin Hussain, 55, from Aston, died when a tree collapsed and fell on the car he was driving on Sutton Road in Erdington, Birmingham, at about 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

One of his daughters, Fatima, said Mr Hussain, who had seven children and owned a restaurant in Lichfield, Staffordshire, was "so loved in the community."

"He made us feel so special in different ways, he was such a family man," she told the BBC. "He did everything for his parents until they passed away too."

In an emotional interview, Mr Hussain's wife of more than three decades, Imrama Begum, described her husband as a "loving" and "caring" man.

"He's like an angel for me. I don't know how I'll survive," she said.

The pair, who were due to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary in March, had also been fostering three children.

"He'd take them everywhere, swimming, McDonald's, park, everywhere… My husband [was] a very supportive person. He supported me all my life," she said.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Fatima said her father had left the house during the storm to go and pick up her sister from work, but he had never arrived.

The pair described how they had tried calling him but he wasn't responding, with his wife then deciding to go and look for him.

Ms Begum described how she drove to Sutton Road to find the road closed and surrounded with police cars and ambulances.

After speaking to officers at the scene, she was taken into a police car where she was told her husband had been killed.

"And then after 15 minutes later, I'm with my youngest daughter, they gave me news my husband [was] gone," she tearfully explained. "That's too much for me."

Fatima, who now lives in Dubai, flew home to Birmingham after receiving a message from her youngest sister telling her: "I think dad's gone."

"I was with my friends and I literally like fell onto the floor. I don't even know how I made the flight back," she added.

Mr Hussain, who had five grandchildren, was also known across the region as head chef and owner of the Qmin Indian restaurant in Lichfield.

"Our house it's full of people… because my dad was so loved in the community and he helped so many people," Fatima said.

Hundreds of trees were brought down in the West Midlands amid 60mph (97kmh) winds as the storm battered the region at the weekend, with roads closed and rail lines blocked.

Residents near Sutton Road described hearing a "big bang" and seeing a "big chunk" of the tree across the car's windscreen on Saturday, with people attempting to open the car doors.

Ms Begum tearfully urged Birmingham City Council to cut down potentially dangerous trees in the area.

"I'm just telling council and private property, please look after your trees, how's my husband gone? I don't want anybody killed like him, please," she said.

In a statement, Birmingham city councillor Majid Mahmood said its thoughts were with Mr Hussain's family and friends.

"At the weekend, Storm Darragh caused a huge amount of damage across the country and Birmingham, with dozens of trees coming down due to very high winds," he said.

"We do regular inspections of trees but of course we will take on board any findings from the investigation."

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