STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating a tragic incident involving a mobile pet clinic in Queens that resulted in the death of a 56-year-old Staten Island man.
Dr. Ashraf Hussein, of Eltingville, died unexpectedly when the mobile veterinary clinic became lodged in a snowbank in Flushing, Queens.
OSHA initiated an investigation into the incident, a spokesman for the agency said Tuesday.
“Addressing underlying or root causes is necessary to truly understand why an incident occurred, to develop truly effective corrective actions and to minimize or eliminate serious consequences from similar future incidents,” the OSHA website explained.
The employer was listed as Low Cost Vet Mobile, sources said. Public records list a Queens-based company bearing the same name.
Family seeking answers
“I got like super happy when they reached out to me,” Hussein’s wife, 46-year-old Marwa Mansour said. “I’m glad that they doing the investigation so my kids and I can be at ease as to what happened to him.”
Mansour previously called for an investigation into how conditions inside the van led to her husband’s death.
Marwa Mansour and Ashraf Hussein fell in love after bonding over their shared passion for animals.Courtsey of Marwa MansourGone too soon
On Feb. 1, at around 9:25 a.m., police responded to a 911 call at 157‑18 65th Ave. in the 107th Precinct, a DCPI spokesperson said.
Hussein was reportedly found unconscious alongside 73-year-old clinic owner Garo Alexanian. Hussein was declared dead at the scene.
The pair was performing an operation inside the van on a small white dog, officials said. The dog did not survive.
No arrests have been made in the incident. The city’s medical examiner confirmed to the Advance/SILive.com that Hussein’s cause of death was accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, which was initially reported by the New York Daily News.
Hussein, who worked for the mobile clinic for more than 15 years, was described by his wife as a devoted veterinarian who loved animals deeply.
Ashraf Hussein died while performing surgery on a dog inside a mobile vet clinic.Courtsey of Mahmoud Hussein
“He would get off work and drive all the way down to Queens. It wasn’t about the money,” Mansour said to the Advance/SILive.com. “He would literally volunteer on Tuesday and Saturday. That’s when he passed away on Saturday. That’s how much he loved his job.”
A GoFundMe created by the Voices for the Voiceless community described Hussein as a compassionate person.
“Even in his final moments, he was doing what he had always done — showing up to serve, putting the needs of others before his own,“ the fundraiser said. ”His sudden passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of the many families and pet owners who trusted him. The lives he saved, the comfort he gave, and the dignity with which he practiced his work will never be forgotten.”
The proceeds raised will go toward covering the doctor’s funeral expenses.