A family who loved Shakir Salaam mourns a boy who was the 'good' in life
'Shakir was my son's best friend ... they formed a bond that was never to be broken'
Shakir Salaam was supposed to be spending the night at his best friend's house tonight, like he did last week.
Instead Jacob and his mother, Lisa, went to the 16-year-old's funeral today, still reeling that the teen whose "smile lit up a room" is gone.
The teen died Oct. 14 after a tree fell and crushed him during a wind storm. Two fellow Clayton Heights Secondary students were sitting beside him when the large tree fell. He had his hoodie up and up to 80-kilometre gusts were howling.
Perhaps he did not hear the sickening crack of the tree, said his best friend's mother.
It took four firemen to remove the tree. His injuries were severe, and he died in hospital soon after the accident.
The death has left many in shock, especially a Surrey, B.C., family who took Salaam into their home and hearts after his mother died four years ago after a serious car accident.
Lisa Borchardt says her red-haired teenager and Shakir were like brothers since meeting when they were about 10 years old in a class to help with learning disabilities.
"They were best friends. They were like salt and pepper ... and he called me 'Auntie'," said Borchardt.
"They formed a bond that was never to be broken. Shakir just became part of our family. He went on family vacations. He was here all the time."
Salaam had been through a lot after losing his own mother, said Borchardt, who credits his grandmother and uncle for raising him into a polite, good-natured teen. He was estranged from his father, she said.
"He didn't talk a lot about what happened. He didn't like the negative. If he had a problem, he always came to me," said Borchardt.
As Salaam grew older he spent more and more time with his friend, Jacob.
The boys were always seen together.
He even lived at Jacob's house for a time, and while there, he'd jump up and put the garbage out or help without being asked.
"If there was a problem he always wanted to fix it," said Borchardt.
Salaam was an avid rugby player who worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken part-time for a while. The Grade 11 student had his learner's license and would have turned 17 in January.
The windstorm
Borchardt pulled up to the school Friday and noticed a fire truck and an ambulance and left, not realizing what had happened.
Her son also noticed the emergency vehicles, but went home. When he got news that his friend was hurt, he ran to help
"Jacob ran out the front door and ran all the way back to the school in the windstorm. He didn't stop. He just ran all the way there and by this time he was gone," said Borchardt.
She raced back and got to the hospital — with only Shakir's nanny and uncle there first.
"She said he passed away and she took me in the room where his body was. I just grabbed him and I held on to him and I cried. I just didn't want to believe it," she sobbed.
"He was an exceptional young man. He was caring, loving and very thoughtful. Shakir was the 'good' in life. He had a heart of gold. He was the good person in life. He didn't hate anybody."
Salaam's funeral was held at 1 p.m. PT on Saturday, with a burial soon afterward in Muslim tradition.
Clayton Heights Secondary is making counsellors available for students on Monday, and posted information online about how to help support young people facing a tragedy, and the overwhelming emotions that can come with a sudden death.
