JERTIH, Aug 31 (Bernama) — A workplace accident that left Md Shahrul Nizam Md Kamil paralysed from the waist down changed his life, but not his determination to serve others, with the 36-year-old now volunteering as a hearse van driver across Peninsular Malaysia.
Md Shahrul Nizam, who lives in Kampung Sungai Ikan, Tepoh, Kuala Nerus, suffered a fractured spine and cracked pelvic bones after being crushed by an iron structure weighing more than 100 kilogrammes (kg) while repairing a lorry engine at a workshop on March 7, 2016.
In 2022, he began serving as a volunteer hearse van driver, providing free services to the community after purchasing his late father-in-law’s SsangYong Stavic multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
He said that he and his wife were initially gripped by fear, but those feelings gradually disappeared when they began viewing every deceased person they transported as a member of their own family.
“Although I’m categorised as a person with disabilies (OKU), it has not dampened my spirit to continue serving because my aim is to do my best,” he told Bernama when met in Kampung Gaung here recently.
The accelerator and brake pedals of the automatic transmission vehicle he drives was modified using metal rods, enabling him to operate the pedals with his hands.
He also relies heavily on the support of his wife, Nor Lishah Anita Abdul Hamid, 36, who always accompanies him when transporting bodies.
“If she doesn’t help out, it’s dificult for me to move around, especialy when getting in and out of the van,” he said.
While driving, he has to use a catheter and carry a urine bag strapped around his waist as he has difficulty getting in and out of the vehicle when he needs to urinate.
Md Shahrul Nizam said he is now under the Kuala Nerus branch of Pertubuhan Amal Komuniti Besut (PAKB) and uses Naza Ria and SsangYong vehicles, adding that he had also driven to other states such as Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang.
He said that one of the most unforgettable experiences was when the van he was driving broke down along the East-West Highway in Gerik, Perak, while he and his wife were on their way to collect a body from Gerik Hospital, with the area also having no telephone or internet coverage.
He also experienced a van breakdown on the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2) while transporting a body, as well as having to drive for almost 24 hours to collect a body in Negeri Sembilan.
“My experiences in handling various bodies, including COVID-19 victims, had made me appreciate life more and strengthened my resolve to continue helping others.
“Although I can’t walk, I can still help others. As long as I’m still able to drive and there are people who need this service, I will continue, even though I still experience pain from my waist down,” he said.
— BERNAMA