Friends and relatives of Mansour family speak out about tragedy during another day of prayer

Community rallies around victims of Sylvan Lake boating accident
•By: Julie Banovic By: Julie Banovic


SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) – People filed into the Mother of God Chaldean Church in Southfield for another day of prayer.

“They’re finding great consolation in the community coming together and praying and their faith in Jesus. They’re finding great peace in that as much as they can at this point,” said Asst. Pastor Pierre Konja.

Pastor Konja’s friend, who is a pastor, is close with the Mansour family and has been by their side since the accident.

“He actually mentioned that they’re doing better than people would expect given the situation at hand. They have great faith,” said Pastor Konja.

The parents lost 11-year-old Alexander and 6-year-old Gabrielle to their injuries. Adriana, 10, is still fighting for her life.

“She’s stable is what they wanted me to articulate that, that she’s stable. Still in critical? Stable,” said Pastor Konja.

The kids were hit by a boat on their raft while being towed by their father on a wave runner on Sylvan Lake on Sunday.

A second vigil took place at the grotto at St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake where classmates of the children showed up.

“I don’t think the kids fully grasp what is happening,” said Faris Naimi. His niece is friends with Adriana. “But I think at one point in their life, whether it’s tomorrow or next week or next year they are going to get a clear understanding and be touched and hurt by this,” he said.

A cousin of the Mansour family came out for the service.

“I pray for the kids. They are in heaven now. But the family is suffering a lot,” said Suad Betty.

The cousin said the kids were so full of life and they had been on the water Saturday and wanted to finish out the weekend having fun.

“Sunday Gabrielle told her father, my dad, let’s go one more time,” said Betty. “That was, you know. Ugh.”

The boater who hit the children did not see the raft. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department said alcohol is not a factor in the crash. The department is investigating the accident and is asking any witnesses from the lake that day to come forward and try to help them piece together exactly what happened on the water.

Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/oakland_county/friends-and-relatives-of-mansour-family-speak-out-about-tragedy-during-another-day-of-prayer#ixzz2ZJ2BlgFG