Emergency services in Ireland have recovered the body of 16-year-old Nigerian boy Emmanuel Familola, who dr+wned while swimming in Lough Swilly near the Buncrana community in County Donegal.
The incident occurred on Saturday, May 10, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ. Familola was swimming with two other teenagers when they ran into difficulty. Emergency responders launched a large-scale air and sea search around 4 p.m. after alarmed witnesses called for help.
One teen made it safely to shore, while another was rescued and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital in critical condition. Familola’s body was later recovered between Ned’s Point and Fahan and taken to the same hospital.
Padraig Mac Lochlainn, a member of the Irish Parliament representing Donegal, confirmed that two teenagers—Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda—d+ed in the tr+gic incident. He supported a GoFundMe campaign to aid their families with funeral expenses.
“This is heartbreaking,” Mac Lochlainn said in a statement on Facebook. He shared condolences with the families and acknowledged the community’s grief.
The GoFundMe campaign, launched by local group Insight Inishowen, affiliated with The Exchange Community Centre, surpassed its goal of €40,000, raising over €41,500. Organizers said funds will be split equally between the two families.
In a message on the fundraising page, Insight Inishowen described the teens as “beautiful souls” and thanked the public for their support. “We want to help ease the burden on these grieving families. Every cent will go directly to them,” the group stated.
The tragedy follows a similar incident reported on May 9 involving another Nigerian teenager, 16-year-old Valentine Ikechukwu, who dr+wned on April 30 while swimming at Colwick Country Park in the UK. Nottinghamshire Police said he got into difficulty in the water.
These back-to-back tragedies have drawn sorrow across Nigerian and Irish communities alike.
