Emergency services in Ireland have recovered the body of a 16-year-old Nigerian boy, Emmanuel Familola, who tragically drowned while swimming in a river near the Buncrana community in County Donegal.
According to a report from Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), the incident occurred on Saturday, May 10.
Familola was swimming with two other teenagers when they ran into difficulty in the waters of Lough Swilly.
Emergency responders launched an extensive air and sea search operation after concerned witnesses raised the alarm around 4 p.m. One of the teenagers managed to reach the shore safely, while another was rescued from the water and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital in critical condition.
Familola’s body was later found between Ned’s Point and Fahan and was transported to the same hospital.
Padraig Mac Lochlainn, a member of the Irish Parliament representing Donegal, confirmed that two teenagers—Emmanuel Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda—lost their lives in the tragedy.
In response, he helped initiate a GoFundMe campaign to support the victims’ families with funeral expenses.
In a statement shared via his Facebook page, Lochlainn expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting the profound grief within the community following the deaths.
He described the drowning as heartbreaking and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
The GoFundMe page, organized by Insight Inishowen, a group affiliated with The Exchange Community Centre, surpassed its target of €40,000, raising over €41,500.
Organizers stated that the funds would be split evenly between the families of the two deceased teenagers.
In a message on the fundraising page, Insight Inishowen described the teens as “beautiful souls” and emphasized the community’s desire to ease the financial burden on the grieving families.
The group pledged to ensure every cent raised would go directly to supporting them during this difficult time.
The tragic incident follows a similar case reported on May 9, where another Nigerian teenager, 16-year-old Valentine Ikechukwu, drowned in a lake at Colwick Country Park in the United Kingdom on April 30.
Nottinghamshire Police reported that he got into difficulty while swimming.
