iPhone crash alert ‘ignored’ before father-of-three lay undiscovered for 28 hours

Nadeem Hussain's body was identified by his wife of 10 years

08:49, 12 Jun 2026

Nadeem Hussain (Image: Facebook)

A family were forced to track down a father-of-three's body themselves after police closed an iPhone crash alert without investigating, as he lay dead in a motorway embankment for more than a day.

Nadeem Hussain's wife later had to identify his body after the 37-year-old went missing, despite his iPhone sending an automated SOS to Lancashire Police shortly after 10pm on March 21, Lancs.Live reports.[1]

Officers tried to call back but, when the call went unanswered, the log was shut down, leading to his worried family eventually tracking his phone and discovering his Audi A3 down the M61 verge in the early hours of March 23,[2] an inquest heard.

An inquest was told Lancashire Police closed the alert call log after its call went unanswered (stock image)(Image: PA)

Tributes to Nadeem, known as Dimmy, have poured in since and been left on the hard shoulder close to where his car left the carriageway. Cones had been placed on the hard shoulder, which National Highways confirmed was due to a drain cover being damaged during the collision.

On Thursday (June 11), an inquest into Nadeem's passing was held at Preston Coroners' Court, during which it heard that he was a mechanic born in Burnley.

"Mr Hussain's death was referred to the coroner because he died from injuries caused by a road traffic collision," Area Coroner Kate Bisset confirmed.

"The body was identified to PC Mason at the Royal Preston Hospital by Chloe; his wife of 10 years."

A GoFundMe page, in honour of Nadeem, was set up after his death, pledging to build wells in third-world countries in his memory. More than GBP4,000 has been raised for the cause at the time of publication.

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"Nadeem was a kind, thoughtful man who had the time for anyone and would do anything to help others around," his family said in the fundraiser.

"Many people have shared touching stories about Dimmy and his kind nature. His passion was for cars, fixing them, driving them, towing them he shared this passion alongside his father and has grown up being taught everything he knows from his father.

"Nadeem was a loving father to three children, Maleesha, Anayah & Zakariyah. He spent his Sundays taking Anayah to the auctions & returning home with extra 'treasures' to annoy his wife.

"He was a loving brother and son, very close to his sisters who are left heartbroken with Nadeem's departure from this world.

They sadly lost Nadia, their other sister six months before Nadeem and as a family this is tragic for them."

At yesterday's inquest opening, the coroner said the case "remains with the police and CPS for investigation" and will be further mentioned on July 23.

The GoFundMe page can be found here[4].

References

1. ^ Lancs.Live reports. (www.lancs.live)
2. ^ discovering his Audi A3 down the M61 verge in the early hours of March 23, (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ lick here to activate (www.google.com)
4. ^ here (www.gofundme.com)