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Funeral for man who died in NSW floods

Liv CasbenAAP
Ayaz Younis was the first victim of the floods that ravaged parts of Sydney's west in March.
Camera IconAyaz Younis was the first victim of the floods that ravaged parts of Sydney's west in March. Credit: AAP

The Pakistani parents of a man who died in floodwaters in Sydney's west six weeks ago have arrived in Sydney for his funeral.

Ayaz Younus, 25, died on the way to his first day at a new job when his car became trapped in floodwaters in Glenorie on March 24.

The Australian resident was the first victim of the floods that ravaged parts of Sydney's west, and had been on the phone to emergency services before he died.

He was a software engineer who had recently completed his masters degree. He was to start his job as a driver for a multinational company.

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The funeral for Mr Younus was delayed because of a coronial inquiry as well as efforts to have his family attend the funeral from Pakistan.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia has helped pay for the family's travel, accommodation and funeral costs.

It said a request for Mr Younus' three siblings to fly from Pakistan had been denied by the Australian government.

His parents arrived in Australia on Sunday and immediately went into quarantine.

The association said the man's parents had been given an exemption by the Australian government to attend part of the funeral, and it hoped it could negotiate for the parents to be able to attend the burial site.

Hamad Chaudhry, who knew Mr Younus through the association, remembers him as a keen sportsman who was very involved with the community.

"Ayaz was a very happy and friendly person who loved his sport and was extremely community-minded. He is deeply missed," Mr Chaudhry told AAP.

"It's been very important to help get his parents out to Australia, and his siblings will be watching the funeral virtually."

Mr Younus is remembered as an active volunteer, planting trees in his community in western Sydney and donating his time to various charities.

A prayer service for the engineering graduate will be held at Marsden Park on Wednesday. He will be buried at Riverstone Cemetery.

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