A WOMAN has paid tribute to her brother, who died after suffering severe head injuries in a car accident two years ago.
Amjid Malik, 23, of Netley Road, Walthamstow, died on December 22, after numerous operations to reduce fluid on his brain, his sister Marriam Malik, 22, a nursery worker, said.
Mr Malik was a passenger in a car accident in June 2007 and was in a coma for six months afterwards, receiving treatment at the Royal London and Homerton Hospitals.
His sister said: “Before the accident, my brother was just a normal, friendly guy.
“He never had any trouble with anyone – he was just friendly to everyone.”
Miss Malik described how her outgoing brother, who had 'too many friends', had been improving steadily after regaining consciousness in December 2007.
She said: “Slowly, he started to recognise us – he got so much better. He was writing and giving us messages.
“The only thing left was to walk and to talk.”
But doctors at Homerton Hospital discovered fluid on Mr Malik's brain in 2008 and his condition worsened throughout 2009.
Miss Malik said: “He went back to square one. I just don't know what went wrong.”
He was admitted to Albany House, a residential care home in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, in October 2008.
Mr Malik underwent his final operation earlier this year and was beginning to show signs of improvement again shortly before his death, his sister said.
She said: “He was starting to recognise us again and his wheelchair arrived just recently – we were planning to bring him home for day visits.”
She also described how she remembered his distinctive laugh and friendly personality.
“He had the funniest laugh and he could be really loud sometimes,” she said.
The former Kelmscott School and George Monoux College student was working for a catering company and was preparing to take a job at Heathrow Airport before his accident.
He leaves behind his parents, as well as younger brother, Harram, 15, and his other sister Hajrah, 17.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here