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Cyclist killed in Lisburn crash was Syrian refugee seeking better life in Northern Ireland

Mohamed Mahfouz Balid was killed after his bicycle was in collision with a lorry in Lisburn
Mohamed Mahfouz Balid was killed after his bicycle was in collision with a lorry in Lisburn Mohamed Mahfouz Balid was killed after his bicycle was in collision with a lorry in Lisburn

A CYCLIST killed in a road crash in Lisburn was a dentist who had fled war-torn Syria.

Mohamed Mahfouz Balid (47) had only moved to Northern Ireland last year for a better life.

The father-of-four was cycling on the Knockmore Road in Lisburn when his bike was in collision with a lorry.

He had been on his way to work at a Lisburn factory making blinds to support his family when the crash happened on Wednesday.

Mr Balid arrived in the north just over a year ago to join his wife and children after they had fled the war-torn city of Aleppo in 2013.

A dentist of more than 20 years experience, Mr Balid had hoped to retrain to practise as a dentist in the UK.

He had been trying to raise £6,000 to sit the UK certified dentistry exams allowing him to work here and a fundraising appeal had also been set up to help him.

He had been due to complete his exams in May and hoped to be certified and practising by July.

In an interview with the BBC last year, Mr Balid said his family had left their native country because "there is no future in Syria within this war".

"No schools, no safe roads, no electricity, no drinking water, even the universities are broken, "he said.

Mr Balid said he had found work in a local factory that makes window blinds because: "I find it good for me to busy myself - not stay at home, and to save some money for that exam".

Dr Raied Al-Wazzan, a prominent member of the Muslim community in Belfast who was a friend of Mr Balid, said the fact he had tragically died in an accident in Northern Ireland was “unbelievable”.

“The family are devastated, especially the children, there’s no way to describe how they are feeling at this moment,” he added.

“They are extremely devastated and heartbroken. They are still in shock.

“At the same time they have received lots of support from the local community, from the Muslim community and the Arab community around them.”