As the aid workers prepared for liftoff, Tariq Khan watched with horror as a throng of villagers rushed toward the helicopter. There were hundreds of people clambering atop overturned earth and scattered debris. And with each hastening step and deafening spin of the main rotor, his fears mounted, fellow workers recalled. The villagers were simple folk from remote communities nestled deep in the mountainous folds of northern Pakistan who might not understand the dangers of getting close.

Khan jumped out of the helicopter's cabin. He inched his way along the wall of people surrounding the helicopter, gently pushing them back and trying to create a safe distance so the helicopter could lift off and pick up more supplies for the earthquake victims. As he tried to keep one person from getting perilously close, he turned suddenly and, not realizing the helicopter was on sloping ground with its tail much lower than usual, took a few fateful steps into its rotating blades.
In a split second, the 40-year-old was dead - a tragic end to a life dedicated to helping others, even in his final moments. Khan, a Beck Taxi driver living in Toronto, had returned home to his native Pakistan to be with his dying mother. After her funeral, he remained to choose a bride and was preparing for his wedding when the Oct. 8 earthquake struck.

The powerful quake, which has claimed more than 87,000 lives, measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. Immediately, he sprang into action and joined a relief team.
"This is the biggest example of how huge his heart was," long-time friend Asad Farid said about the accident that claimed Khan's life on Oct. 16. "He had such a kind heart. ... It was his caring personality that took him back to Pakistan. "This is a big tragedy," Farid said in an interview from his Toronto home. "He was the oldest son and the sole provider for his family. Now what will they do?" Khan immigrated to Canada around 1997, searching for a job that would support the large family he left back in his hometown, Bannu. As the only breadwinner for a household that included elderly parents, three unmarried sisters and three younger brothers, all students, Khan figured he'd have no problem landing an agricultural job in Canada. After all, he had a master's degree in agriculture and had worked in Pakistan for seven years as a deputy director of water management.

Unable to find work in his field, he did a number of odd jobs in Toronto, including brief stints at an electronics and video store, as a security guard and, most recently, as a cab driver. Anwaar Haq, a Royal Taxi driver who was once Khan's roommate, said he'll never forget Khan's "always smiling face" and selfless nature. When the blackout occurred two years ago in Toronto, he said, Khan stopped his cab to direct traffic. "Everybody else was making money and there he was directing traffic, just happy to be able to help."

Khan's devotion to supporting his family back home was such that for many years he quelled all thoughts of marriage, focusing solely on work. He did, however, find time to volunteer as an auxiliary member of the Toronto Police Service from 2002 to 2004, working primarily on crime prevention and community outreach.
In February, his mother became ill and Khan immediately returned home to Pakistan. Uncertain about how long he'd be there and itching to work with a non-government organization, he joined the Sungi Development Foundation in April.

Hired as a team leader, he worked with marginalized communities to develop sustainable programs in northern Pakistan. Co-worker Nazia Hameed recalled Khan's efforts in promoting the status of women. Against the odds, he persuaded the men of three villages to let women participate in a project where they would be trained in crafts - a skill that could generate income. It's significant to note, Hameed said, it was the first time in six years the women had participated in an activity outside their villages. After Khan's mother died in July, he remained in search of a wife, whom he planned to return with to Canada. With a bride chosen and a wedding date set for Nov. 5, he took October off from working with Sungi to plan the celebration. But when news arrived that many of the communities he had worked with had disappeared beneath landslides or been reduced to rubble, nothing could keep him from joining Sungi's relief operations - not even his family's disapproval.

"His spirit and dedication have encouraged everyone to do more," said Sungi executive director Samina Khan, who described him as a "tireless social worker."
"Right to the end of his life, he was dedicated to helping others."