A FIRE engine driver whose vehicle hit a pensioner on Oxford’s Cowley Road said he did “everything in his power” to avoid the fatal collision.

Grandmother Sultan Begum, of Cowley Road, died at the John Radcliffe Hospital on May 16 last year after being hit by a fire engine on an emergency call earlier that day.

An inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday heard the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service engine was on its way from the Rewley Road station to an emergency at about 3.35pm when it hit the 79-year-old widow.

Firefighter Gavin Carter, who was driving the fire engine, told the inquest: “I did everything in my power to prevent the collision. I did everything I had been trained to do. I would like to offer my condolences. I hope that you understand that I did everything I could to avoid this accident.”

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A family member then replied: “We hold nothing against you, sir.”

In his statement, Mr Carter said firefighters were responding to an emergency in the Blackbird Leys estate, where a child had trapped their fingers in the cogs of a bicycle.

He told the inquest the crew were travelling along Cowley Road when he saw Mrs Begum crossing the road ahead, before she stopped in the middle of a traffic island.

And he said the fire engine, which he thought was travelling at about 35 or 36 mph, had its blue lights, flashing headlights and sirens switched on.

He added: “I backed off the speed and she looked up and at that point. You think the person has acknowledged you because we have got eye contact and it happens all the time. She looked up, that I can be sure of.

“If somebody has looked up at you and stopped, you have to assume that they have seen you. So I progressed and she just stepped out.”

Mr Carter told the inquest he “immediately hit the brakes” before bringing the fire engine to a stop, but he did not know why Mrs Begum stepped in the fire engine’s path.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service crew manager Paul Harding told the inquest firefighters are allowed to drive up to 20mph above speed limits.

Witness Hannah Ahmad, who had been driving along Cowley Road, said in her statement she saw housewife Mrs Begum slowly crossing the road ahead of her, before she moved from the traffic island and stepped in front of the fire engine.

Teacher Ms Ahmad added: “I think the elderly lady’s behaviour was quite bizarre, I’m not saying she did it on purpose but I can’t believe how she stepped out.

“I do not think the driver of the fire engine would have had time to brake when the elderly lady stepped out.”

Family member Altaf Ali said in his statement Pakistani-native Mrs Begum, often called Bear by her loved ones, had been living in England for the past eight years.

He added: “She was still pretty sharp, her brain was pretty good.”

Neighbour Rosalinda Landon said she often helped Mrs Begum, who could not speak English, to cross the road.

She added: “She would never speak to me, only smile.”

Consultant in emergency medicine Dr Adham Khalek said in his medical report Mrs Begum died of traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage after sustaining head, chest and pelvic injuries.

Coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accident death and said: “Obviously it was a great shock at the time. I know that she lived locally and many members of the family were on the scene afterwards, so I’m sure that was a great shock and distressing at the time. There is certainly no evidence that it was an intentional act to step in front of a fire engine.

“We don’t know why Mrs Begum stepped in front of the fire engine. She looked but didn’t see or didn’t appreciate what the situation was, which is very tragic.”

Hundreds of mourners united at the Central Oxford Mosque last May to say goodbye to Mrs Begum, with at least 800 people attending the funeral at the Manzil Way mosque.


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