Tributes to three family members killed in crash

Crash victims Isengelo Masudi, Vanueli Kibungo and Faustin Emidi Patachako

TRACEY GRAY
28 July 2009 13:00



They came to Norwich seeking a safe haven from their war-torn country, but a family has been left devastated after three relatives were killed in a car crash.

The men, two of them brothers, died after losing control of their car and hitting a tree.

Two children aged 10 and 13, who were part of the men's extended family and were travelling in the back of the car, suffered broken legs but are now out of hospital.

Today, tributes were paid to the victims, all of whom were refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and had come to Norwich to escape their war-torn country.

Sue Gee, lead officer of the Gateway Programme, which brought the men to the city, said she had spoken to families who had been left “deeply shocked and upset by the tragedy”.

The crash happened on the A1 northbound between Worksop and Blyth, Nottinghamshire, on Friday, July 17.

The driver, 41-year-old Isengelo Masudi, of Bates Green, Earlham, and his nephew Vanueli Kibungu 25, of Leicester Street, Norwich, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Faustin Emidi Patachako, 47, of Doman Road, Lakenham, the older brother of Mr Kibungu, was sitting in the back of the car and suffered broken legs in the accident.

He was taken to Bassetlaw District General Hospital but died later while surgery was being performed.

They had come to Norwich under The Gateway Protection Programme, which was set up in October 2006 as part of a government scheme protecting some of the world's most vulnerable people.

Norwich was one of the first places in the county to host the scheme for refugee families who were set up in camps in Zambia where they have been living after fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The families of the men say they were all committed Christians and were starting to make something of their life in the UK.

Mr Masudi had been in the county two and a half years, was a committed family man. He was the third child born in a family of five children in Kazimia, Congo. He is survived by his widow, Sharon, and three young children, two boys and one girl.

He had trained as a pastor and a tailor in Congo and Zambia, before he arrived in the UK in December, 2006. He was studying accountancy, expecting to become an accounting technician this year.

Ms Gee said: “The family of the deceased will continue to remember him as a man of God and loving father. Sharon and the children believe that God has called him home and that they will see him in heaven.

“He always looked out his wife and children first. It leaves a major hole in his family. He would often offer to help people and many people say their last conversation was saying he would help them - like a neighbour's car he said he would help with.”

Mr Patachako was married to Beatrice, and had seven children. He had completed secondary school education and then attended and graduated from the bible college, AFIMIN, in Congo.

His family had moved first to Tanzania as refugees and lived in the Nyarugoso refugee camp. Whilst in the camp he worked with the Red Cross as a health promoter. He arrived in the UK on March 26, this year.

Ms Gee said: “Faustin and his family started to fit in and integrate well in the Norwich community. He was a natural family man, very committed to his family and bringing up his kids in the UK, and working very hard to make this future a reality for them.”

“The family will continue to remember the man of God and loving father that they knew.”

Mr Kibungu, who had a diploma in teaching, was the eighth born in his family and had sought refuge in Tanzania where he was raised by his older brother Faustin and family.

He started his first job working in the camp only three months before he left for the United Kingdom this year under the Gateway Protection Programme.

Ms Gee said: “Vanueli was still a single man, having left his parents in Tanzania. Vanueli made a lot of friends in a short period of time; he was fluent in English and a very charming young man

“He was a very young who was doing very well. He had a good standard of English and was working really well to improve this and make a future for himself in the UK. He wanted to offer something to the community.”

As both Mr Kibungu and Mr Patachako had only recently come to the UK, they were still working on improving their English by studying a course at the University of East Anglia.

Ms Gee added: “The families send their particular thanks to the emergency services and Bassetlaw Hospital who have been kindness itself throughout this distressing period.”

For details of the funerals being held for the men, contact The Gateway Protection Programme on 01603 729271.

Did you know the victims and want to pay tribute? If so contact reporter Tracey Gray on 01603 772418 or email tracey.gray@archant.co.uk

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