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by kazz on 27 April 2010 - 02:04
MAGDALENA Leska was well known for her "big heart" and love of animals, which sadly also cost the bride-to-be her life.
The 26-year-old died on Wednesday night after being hit by a car while trying to move a dog to safety on the Melton Highway at Hillside. The german shepherd, believed to be a stray, also was killed.
Magdalena's family spoke yesterday of their pain.
Her devastated mother, Jolanta Leska, said the Melton family, including her son Konrad, 30, and daughter Anetka, 15, were struggling to deal with their loss.
"The police knocked on the door ... I knew straight away, I was screaming, 'No, no, no. It's not real'," she said.
"It's a terrible loss. We can't accept it. We can't understand why this happened to us.
"This is not possible. She was a very decent person."
Magdalena's fiance, Ahmed Eltawil, was too distraught to speak, but Konrad relayed a message.
"In his heart she was his wife, they were already married. He loved her very much," he said.
Ms Leska said Magdalena was engrossed in wedding talk.
"She had finally found the person she could spend the rest of her life with and now she can't," she said.
"They love each other so much. She was his life. It was the most wonderful time in their lives."
Ms Leska said Magdalena's actions on Wednesday night, when she stopped her Melton-bound car about 9pm, were typical of her "big heart".
She said Magdalena had owned dogs and cats in the past and had two horses called Zane and Ziyra - one of which she saved from being put down after it lost its sight - at the time of her death.
"She loved animals all of her life," she said.
"She couldn't pass if she saw a dog or cat hurt. She was a girl with a big heart."
Magdalena's aunty, Monika Siwiak, 33, who travelled to Victoria from Western Australia, said her niece always wanted to help animals in need.
"If they were injured or stranded, she would bring them home," she said.
Ms Siwiak said she had virtually grown up with her niece, given they were only seven years apart in age.
"I keep seeing her as she was when she was little. We are all a bit up and down," she said. Konrad paid tribute to his sister, who had worked odd jobs since finishing school and was planning to study business management.
"I love my sister very much and I was very, very proud of her," he said.
Ms Leska said her daughter had a lot of friends who had paid their respects at the crash site where a cross and flowers have been set up.
"Whenever someone had a problem she always had time for them," she said.
"All the people loved her."
Ms Leska said she last saw her daughter on Sunday when they were driving in separate cars in Melton. She had given way to her at a roundabout.
They tooted their horns, waved and caught up further down the road for a brief chat.
"I said, 'I'll see you soon'. She looked so gorgeous and so happy. It was the happiest time of her life," she said.
Magdalena's funeral will be held later this week.
Major Collision Investigation Unit Sen-Sgt Jeff Smith said the driver of the silver, early-model Lexus had been interviewed by police. It is understood the man got out of his car after the crash.
"He left the scene and returned some time after," Sen-Sgt Smith said.
He said the investigation, including whether the driver was speeding, was continuing, with witnesses also being sought.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/magdalena-leska-died-trying-to-save-a-stray-dog/story-e6frf7kx-1225857833159
So tragic and it is one less gem in the world, who sounds like she had a heart of gol
The 26-year-old died on Wednesday night after being hit by a car while trying to move a dog to safety on the Melton Highway at Hillside. The german shepherd, believed to be a stray, also was killed.
Magdalena's family spoke yesterday of their pain.
Her devastated mother, Jolanta Leska, said the Melton family, including her son Konrad, 30, and daughter Anetka, 15, were struggling to deal with their loss.
"The police knocked on the door ... I knew straight away, I was screaming, 'No, no, no. It's not real'," she said.
"It's a terrible loss. We can't accept it. We can't understand why this happened to us.
"This is not possible. She was a very decent person."
Magdalena's fiance, Ahmed Eltawil, was too distraught to speak, but Konrad relayed a message.
"In his heart she was his wife, they were already married. He loved her very much," he said.
Ms Leska said Magdalena was engrossed in wedding talk.
"She had finally found the person she could spend the rest of her life with and now she can't," she said.
"They love each other so much. She was his life. It was the most wonderful time in their lives."
Ms Leska said Magdalena's actions on Wednesday night, when she stopped her Melton-bound car about 9pm, were typical of her "big heart".
She said Magdalena had owned dogs and cats in the past and had two horses called Zane and Ziyra - one of which she saved from being put down after it lost its sight - at the time of her death.
"She loved animals all of her life," she said.
"She couldn't pass if she saw a dog or cat hurt. She was a girl with a big heart."
Magdalena's aunty, Monika Siwiak, 33, who travelled to Victoria from Western Australia, said her niece always wanted to help animals in need.
"If they were injured or stranded, she would bring them home," she said.
Ms Siwiak said she had virtually grown up with her niece, given they were only seven years apart in age.
"I keep seeing her as she was when she was little. We are all a bit up and down," she said. Konrad paid tribute to his sister, who had worked odd jobs since finishing school and was planning to study business management.
"I love my sister very much and I was very, very proud of her," he said.
Ms Leska said her daughter had a lot of friends who had paid their respects at the crash site where a cross and flowers have been set up.
"Whenever someone had a problem she always had time for them," she said.
"All the people loved her."
Ms Leska said she last saw her daughter on Sunday when they were driving in separate cars in Melton. She had given way to her at a roundabout.
They tooted their horns, waved and caught up further down the road for a brief chat.
"I said, 'I'll see you soon'. She looked so gorgeous and so happy. It was the happiest time of her life," she said.
Magdalena's funeral will be held later this week.
Major Collision Investigation Unit Sen-Sgt Jeff Smith said the driver of the silver, early-model Lexus had been interviewed by police. It is understood the man got out of his car after the crash.
"He left the scene and returned some time after," Sen-Sgt Smith said.
He said the investigation, including whether the driver was speeding, was continuing, with witnesses also being sought.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/magdalena-leska-died-trying-to-save-a-stray-dog/story-e6frf7kx-1225857833159
So tragic and it is one less gem in the world, who sounds like she had a heart of gol
by DDR-DSH on 27 April 2010 - 03:04
Should be nominated for a Darwin Award. This was NOT a good idea!!!! Other than that, I have to say I am sympathetic to the family, friends and loved ones. This is going to be very, very hard on them. She was really much too young to die.
by VonIsengard on 27 April 2010 - 03:04
Well, if the dog was in YOUR hands Janice, I suppose it would have starved to death, huh? Darwin award, indeed. Go away. For anyone who is new and doesn't know, this is DDR-DSH : www.pet-abuse.com/cases/8106/CA/US/
It takes a truly special person to put their life on the line for a helpless animal. So sad that her own kindness got her killed, tragedy really only befalls the best of people sometimes.
It takes a truly special person to put their life on the line for a helpless animal. So sad that her own kindness got her killed, tragedy really only befalls the best of people sometimes.
by Two Moons on 27 April 2010 - 03:04
Sad story.
Nuff said.
Nuff said.
by DDR-DSH on 27 April 2010 - 06:04
I'm sorry to say I disagree. She put herself at risk.. foolish risk. The dog died, anyway, and was probably already too late when she got to it.
Now, think of the REAL good she could have done to animals which COULD be helped, and the pain and grief this is going to cost her family. She was a foolish young woman.. Not compassionate, so much as foolish. Anyone who has wisdom knows that they have to pick their battles in life. You get ONE life, and to waste it on a dog in the middle of the street is NOT wise.
Just now I am taken back to an experience many years ago. I had a service call to an apartment in a large complex. The door was unlocked, and a voice beckoned me to come in. An elderly woman was lying on a couch in the front room, covered with a blanket. She was in a lot of pain and distress. She began to tell me her story:
She and her husband lived comfortably in their own home, nearby, until one day there was a fire. In the chaos, the woman realized that her pet was still inside. She went into the burning building to try to save him, and the ceiling fell, preventing her escape. In fact, a burning beam was lying across her, burning her thigh very severely. She peeled back the blanket to show me and there were really huge areas which were badly burned. She'd just gotten out of a burn center, and was lucky to be alive.
Just as she was finishing telling me this story, her husband came in, and he was very unhappy with her. The discussion just brought it all up to the surface, once more. It was going to be a long recovery for both of them, but made SO much worse by his wife's foolishness. Yes, she was thinking of the dog, but she was not thinking of her husband and other family.
The dog died, in spite of all of this.
Now, think of the REAL good she could have done to animals which COULD be helped, and the pain and grief this is going to cost her family. She was a foolish young woman.. Not compassionate, so much as foolish. Anyone who has wisdom knows that they have to pick their battles in life. You get ONE life, and to waste it on a dog in the middle of the street is NOT wise.
Just now I am taken back to an experience many years ago. I had a service call to an apartment in a large complex. The door was unlocked, and a voice beckoned me to come in. An elderly woman was lying on a couch in the front room, covered with a blanket. She was in a lot of pain and distress. She began to tell me her story:
She and her husband lived comfortably in their own home, nearby, until one day there was a fire. In the chaos, the woman realized that her pet was still inside. She went into the burning building to try to save him, and the ceiling fell, preventing her escape. In fact, a burning beam was lying across her, burning her thigh very severely. She peeled back the blanket to show me and there were really huge areas which were badly burned. She'd just gotten out of a burn center, and was lucky to be alive.
Just as she was finishing telling me this story, her husband came in, and he was very unhappy with her. The discussion just brought it all up to the surface, once more. It was going to be a long recovery for both of them, but made SO much worse by his wife's foolishness. Yes, she was thinking of the dog, but she was not thinking of her husband and other family.
The dog died, in spite of all of this.
by DDR-DSH on 27 April 2010 - 06:04
That said, I am very sorry for the family. Where Magdalena is, she doesn't have to deal with all the grief, loss and fallout. She left that legacy to those who stay behind. The grieving process can take seven to ten years. It's sad, but dogs die every day and they only live about twelve years, on average. If it's lucky to be a LOVED dog, it leaves a big hole in our hearts when it dies, but there is just no way you can compare the value of a human life to that of an animal, even a dog. Animals have souls.. I do believe that. But, their lives are very different than ours.
I once saw a man try to pick up a stray, hit in the middle of the street, and that dog came to life and latched onto the PALM of his hand!!! The surprised man lifted that dog straight up off the pavement!
I once did pull a dog from a street when he had been hit, but traffic was light and the visibility was excellent. I used a long pole with a hook to get ahold of his collar. When I got him off the street and onto the curb, I really didn't know what to do with him. I was getting off work in a half an hour and still in my work van. The dog was alive, but unresponsive. He was shocky. I turned in my work van and came back to get him.. I took him to my vet and spent $40 on him, which I never expected to recover (and never did). When that "thing" came around, he was the meanest little shit I've ever seen!!! I had put him into an old panel van in the shade of a tree, with some food and water.
The next day, I went to see how he was coming along. He'd recovered from the little concussion he'd gotten, and I might as well have had a Tasmanian devil on my hands. Come to find out later on that this little yellow mongrel was a "coy-dog".. half coyote. Against unlikely odds, he did finally make it back home, and I happened to run into the owner. Well, when I still had him, you could NO WAY get into that van or touch him. If you put a metal pole in through the window, he'd attack it with a ferocity that would make a grown man shudder. I thought he'd break his teeth on that metal pole!
When I encountered the dog one day in the field, the woman of the house had to put him outside while I did the repair I was called out to do, and she told me that she hated the dog and really wished it had died. She went looking for it at the 'pound, only out of a sense of responsibility, but regretted bringing him back home. He was an odious beast!!!! Now, to think that I wasted my time and $40 on him is bad enough.. To think that I might have even taken a risk for my life for such a creature is troubling, in hindsight!
I once saw a man try to pick up a stray, hit in the middle of the street, and that dog came to life and latched onto the PALM of his hand!!! The surprised man lifted that dog straight up off the pavement!
I once did pull a dog from a street when he had been hit, but traffic was light and the visibility was excellent. I used a long pole with a hook to get ahold of his collar. When I got him off the street and onto the curb, I really didn't know what to do with him. I was getting off work in a half an hour and still in my work van. The dog was alive, but unresponsive. He was shocky. I turned in my work van and came back to get him.. I took him to my vet and spent $40 on him, which I never expected to recover (and never did). When that "thing" came around, he was the meanest little shit I've ever seen!!! I had put him into an old panel van in the shade of a tree, with some food and water.
The next day, I went to see how he was coming along. He'd recovered from the little concussion he'd gotten, and I might as well have had a Tasmanian devil on my hands. Come to find out later on that this little yellow mongrel was a "coy-dog".. half coyote. Against unlikely odds, he did finally make it back home, and I happened to run into the owner. Well, when I still had him, you could NO WAY get into that van or touch him. If you put a metal pole in through the window, he'd attack it with a ferocity that would make a grown man shudder. I thought he'd break his teeth on that metal pole!
When I encountered the dog one day in the field, the woman of the house had to put him outside while I did the repair I was called out to do, and she told me that she hated the dog and really wished it had died. She went looking for it at the 'pound, only out of a sense of responsibility, but regretted bringing him back home. He was an odious beast!!!! Now, to think that I wasted my time and $40 on him is bad enough.. To think that I might have even taken a risk for my life for such a creature is troubling, in hindsight!
by bazza on 27 April 2010 - 19:04
Where did the rest of the comments on this sad story go? Can fully understand a couple being removed but not the rest!!!!
by GSDalways on 27 April 2010 - 22:04
Oh bless, what a sad story....
by starrchar on 27 April 2010 - 22:04
So sad and tragic. One less earth angel to help the animals in this world. My heart goes out to her family.
by Red Sable on 28 April 2010 - 01:04
"Where did the rest of the comments on this sad story go? Can fully understand a couple being removed but not the rest!!!!"
Dang, I hate it when that happens. What did I miss?
Dang, I hate it when that happens. What did I miss?
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