My name is Sheddy Rose, and I am a train driver based at King’s Cross with LNER. I am writing this on behalf of MK’s colleagues and friends, and I am fundraising to support his next of kin. Like many of us who worked alongside him, I am still trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of someone who was not just a workmate, but a friend. This page has been created so that MK’s family, and especially his young son, can see just how deeply he was loved and how much he meant to those around him.

It is with deep sadness that we remember Mubarak Abdi, known to us all as MK. A King’s Cross train driver, colleague, and friend, MK was born on 18 November 1987 and passed away on 27 January 2026, aged 38, while on holiday in Somaliland following a very short illness. His passing has left his family, friends, and colleagues shocked and heartbroken, struggling to understand how someone so present, grounded, and full of life could be taken so suddenly.

MK joined LNER in October 2023 and qualified as a train driver in February 2025. In a relatively short space of time, he became an integral part of the King’s Cross driving family. He was never just another name on a roster. He was someone people naturally gravitated towards, a steady and reassuring presence in the mess room, and a colleague who was trusted and respected. Many of us shared turns, conversations, laughter, frustrations, and the quiet moments that build real bonds. Those who trained alongside him described him as a strong, brotherly presence, which captures exactly who he was to so many of us.

Family was at the very centre of MK’s life. He was the youngest of nine siblings, with six brothers and three sisters, and he took great pride in his place within such a close and loving family. His family arrived in the UK when he was just seven years old, and those bonds only strengthened over time. His sisters Asma and Hodan live in London, his brother Abdirahman known as Abdi lives in Newcastle, and his elder brother Omar, who was especially close to MK, lives in Saudi Arabia. Despite being spread across different countries, the strength of their connection was clear.

When MK passed away, all of his siblings came together and made it to Somaliland for his funeral. Hundreds of people attended, a reflection of how well known and respected MK and his family are there, and of the many lives he touched both locally and abroad. MK had previously spent around seven years working in Somaliland, and the outpouring of love and respect shown at his funeral spoke volumes about the man he was. Cousins also travelled from Qatar and Saudi Arabia to pay their respects.

MK was deeply devoted to his mother, Shune. During his final visit, he was able to spend nine precious days with her, four of which he was unwell. His family have shared that his mother found comfort in being able to see and care for her son during that time, and in her faith, she expressed that God gave her a son and, when his time came, took him back. Those moments together are something the family will hold close forever.

Away from work, MK was a devoted father and a proud Arsenal supporter. He leaves behind his three year old son, Younis, who lives in Sheffield. This fundraising is being done with Younis at its heart, so that as he grows older, he will know not only that his father was loved, but why. That his dad was a man of integrity, warmth, and quiet strength. A man who showed up for others, who worked hard, who cared deeply, and who left a lasting impression wherever he went.

In just over two years at King’s Cross, MK built strong friendships across the depot and the wider LNER community. He was a big man with a big heart, generous with his time, his care, and his support. His kindness, humour, humility, and presence left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. His absence is felt every day by those who worked alongside him, and by many others beyond the railway.

MK mattered. He still does. This fundraising is a way for those who knew him, worked with him, or were touched by his life to come together in support of his next of kin and to honour a life taken far too soon. It is also a way of ensuring that his legacy lives on through the stories, memories, and love shared here, especially for his son and family.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will help support MK’s family and honour his life with the dignity, love, and respect he earned through the way he lived and the way he treated others.

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page so it reaches those who knew MK, worked alongside him, or would want to show their support.

All the drivers at King’s Cross thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion during this incredibly difficult time. Together, let us honour MK’s memory and stand alongside the family he loved so deeply.

Rest in eternal peace MK, and may Allah have mercy on him and grant him the highest place in Jannah.

You will always be remembered, MK.