Emergency responders in Ireland have recovered the body of 16-year-old Nigerian teenager, Emmanuel Familola, who tragically drowned while swimming in a river in the Buncrana area of County Donegal.
Local reports from Raidió Teilifís Éireann indicated that the incident occurred on Saturday, May 10. Familola was swimming with two other teenagers when they ran into trouble in the waters of Lough Swilly around 4 p.m. Witnesses at the scene quickly raised the alarm, prompting an extensive air and sea search operation.
Authorities confirmed that the teen’s body was found later that evening between Ned’s Point and Fahan, not far from Buncrana. His remains were subsequently taken to Letterkenny University Hospital.
According to reports, one of the teenagers managed to reach the shore safely, while another was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Padraig Mac Lochlainn, a member of the Irish Parliament representing the Donegal constituency, has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the families of the deceased. He confirmed that both Emmanuel Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda lost their lives in the tragedy.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Lochlainn described the incident as deeply saddening, stating that it had left the local community in shock. The fundraising initiative, organized by local group Insight Inishowen, aims to help cover funeral expenses for the grieving families.
As of the time of this report, the fundraiser had surpassed its €40,000 goal, with donations totaling over €41,500. Organizers assured that the funds would be equally divided between the two affected families.
“We are shattered by this tragedy. Emmanuel and Matt were known and loved in our community,” the statement from Insight Inishowen read. “This effort is to support their families through a time of unbearable loss and ensure they are not alone in this.”
This incident comes just days after the recovery of another Nigerian teenager, Valentine Ikechukwu, who drowned in a lake at Colwick Country Park in the United Kingdom. The 16-year-old was reported to have gotten into difficulty while swimming on April 30, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
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