Monday, January 29, 2024

'When I saw her, my heart sank': 4-year-old girl dies in River Valley accident



Zara Mei Orlic at her last princess-themed birthday party early in January.PHOTO: Zara Mei Orlic at her last princess-themed birthday party early in January. She died in hospital after she was injured in a road accident on Jan 23.
Photo courtesy of Nick Orlic
Picture posted by Vihanya Rakshika, Asiaone on 27 January 2023 at 07:21 pm
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SINGAPORE – Four-year-old Zara Mei celebrated her birthday on New Year’s Day and went on her first skiing trip in December, but on Jan 23 her life was cut short in a fatal accident near her home.

Zara was walking to her River Valley home after pre-school with her two-year-old sister and their maid Lily when a car came from around the street corner and knocked her down.

Speaking to The Straits Times on Jan 27, Zara’s father Nick Orlic said the maid was holding the younger girl’s hand and carrying their school bags, and had given Zara the green light to cross the road after checking that it was safe.


 Zara was walking to her River Valley home after pre-school with her two-year-old sister and their maid when a car drove around a nearby street corner and knocked her down.PHOTO: Zara was walking to her River Valley home after pre-school with her two-year-old sister and their maid when a car drove around a nearby street corner and knocked her down.
Photo courtesy of Nick Orlic
Picture posted by Vihanya Rakshika, Asiaone on 27 January 2023 at 07:21 pm
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Zara’s six-year-old sister was not with them at the time.

Dr Orlic, a senior lecturer at Nanyang Business School, said: “Zara was a careful girl. She was taught to check the roads before crossing.”

The street was usually not busy with traffic either, he added, although illegal parking and speeding cars were a problem.


 Dr Orlic, a senior lecturer at Nanyang Business SchoolPHOTO: Dr Orlic, a senior lecturer at Nanyang Business School, said: “Zara was a careful girl. She was taught to check the roads before crossing.”
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The maid, an Indonesian in her 30s, said she could not reach Zara in time to prevent her from being hit by the car. All she could do was scream for the driver to stop, but the car stopped only after some time.

Dr Orlic, 39, said he was at home, just minutes away from the accident spot, when he got a phone call from the maid, and he raced down to where Zara was.

“When I saw her, my heart sank. Her skull was shattered. She was bleeding profusely from her nose, mouth and head. And her eyes were closed,” he said.


 When I saw her, my heart sank.PHOTO: “When I saw her, my heart sank. Her skull was shattered. She was bleeding profusely from her nose, mouth and head. And her eyes were closed,” he said.
Picture posted by Freepik
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Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics arrived soon after and found that Zara had a faint pulse, he added.

The child was rushed to hospital, where a surgeon told Dr Orlic that Zara’s chances of survival were not good. However, Dr Orlic said, the doctors continued to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Zara for about half an hour.


 The child was rushed to hospital, where a surgeon told Dr Orlic that Zara’s chances of survival were not good.PHOTO: The child was rushed to hospital, where a surgeon told Dr Orlic that Zara’s chances of survival were not good. However, Dr Orlic said, the doctors continued to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Zara for about half an hour.
Picture posted by Michelle on 13 December 2023 at 07:35:51 am
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“I asked them to continue keeping her alive till Michelle arrived because I wanted us to make a decision together.”

Dr Orlic’s wife Michelle, a 38-year-old British lawyer, reached the hospital as soon as she could after speaking to the police at the accident location.

Seeing Zara for the first time after the accident, she broke down in tears, said Dr Orlic. “She did not realise how bad the injuries were before she had seen Zara. But she was very brave. Together, we told the surgeon to stop the CPR and said: ‘You can let her go now.’”


 Seeing Zara for the first time after the accident, she broke down in tears, said Dr Orlic.PHOTO: Seeing Zara for the first time after the accident, she broke down in tears, said Dr Orlic. “She did not realise how bad the injuries were before she had seen Zara. But she was very brave. Together, we told the surgeon to stop the CPR and said: ‘You can let her go now.’”
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In response to queries, the police said there was an accident involving a car and a pedestrian in Institution Hill towards River Valley Road on Jan 23 at about 4.55pm.

They said a four-year-old girl was taken unconscious to hospital, where she later died of her injuries.

The police added that a 40-year-old woman was arrested under suspicion of careless driving causing death.


 In response to queries, the police said there was an accident involving a car and a pedestrian in Institution Hill towards River Valley Road on Jan 23 at about 4.55pm.PHOTO: In response to queries, the police said there was an accident involving a car and a pedestrian in Institution Hill towards River Valley Road on Jan 23 at about 4.55pm.
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Dr Orlic – who has lived in Singapore since 2012 and, like his wife, is a permanent resident – said Zara was a joyful child who loved dancing. She also adored her sisters.

He added that she loved her first skiing trip in 2023 and spent a memorable Christmas in Croatia, where Dr Orlic is from.

Zara was too young to ski but wanted her father to be with her the whole time. So, Dr Orlic took her for three hours of skiing lessons and stayed by her side for all the skiing activities.


 Zara had spent her last Christmas in Croatia and enjoyed the cold weather.PHOTO: Zara had spent her last Christmas in Croatia and enjoyed the cold weather.
Photo courtesy of Nick Orlic
Picture posted by Vihanya Rakshika, Asiaone on 27 January 2023 at 07:21 pm
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He is happy that he was able to have that time with her, he said.

He added: “Lily noticed that Zara was singing to herself cheerfully just moments before the accident. It gives us some comfort to know that she was happy when she died.”

Lily will be getting professional psychological help to cope with the trauma of witnessing the accident, he said.

The family, Dr Orlic added, will hold a private funeral for Zara on Jan 28 and 29.


 Four-year-old Zara Mei celebrated her birthday on New Year’s Day and went on her first skiing trip in December, but on Jan 23 her life was cut short in a fatal accident near her home.PHOTO: Four-year-old Zara Mei celebrated her birthday on New Year’s Day and went on her first skiing trip in December, but on Jan 23 her life was cut short in a fatal accident near her home.
Photo Lab effect picture by Jl Po
 

 Dr Orlic – who has lived in Singapore since 2012 and, like his wife, is a permanent resident
PHOTO: Dr Orlic – who has lived in Singapore since 2012 and, like his wife, is a permanent resident – said Zara was a joyful child who loved dancing. She also adored her sisters.
 

 Lily noticed that Zara was singing to herself cheerfully just moments before the accident.
PHOTO: “Lily noticed that Zara was singing to herself cheerfully just moments before the accident. It gives us some comfort to know that she was happy when she died.”
 
There are few things more painful and heartbreaking than the loss of a child. And suffering is even more painful when you do so alone. The grief of that loss can be isolating, and you feel as though no one understands your pain and that you have to face it alone.
But God understands your pain and He is with you in your darkest times of suffering. He will walk with you through it all.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
By Vihanya Rakshika, Asiaone, 27 January 2023 at 07:21 pm
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
 


Reference
[1] Vihanya Rakshika, Asiaone, 'When I saw her, my heart sank': 4-year-old girl dies in River Valley accident, posted on 27 January 2023 at 07:21 pm, https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/when-i-saw-her-my-heart-sank-4-year-old-girl-dies-river-valley-accident?utm_source=a1home&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=A1+trending&utm_content=c6

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