The remains of 16-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Familola, have been discovered following a drowning incident in the Buncrana area of County Donegal, Ireland.
Reports from Irish broadcaster RTÉ indicate that the tragedy unfolded on Saturday, May 10, when Familola and two other teenagers encountered trouble while swimming in Lough Swilly.
Emergency services were alerted around 4 p.m. after witnesses noticed the teens struggling in the water.
One of the swimmers managed to reach the shore unaided, while another was pulled from the water and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Familola, however, was reported missing and his body was later recovered between Ned’s Point and Fahan.
He was taken to the hospital where he was formally pronounced dead.
The heartbreaking incident has sparked widespread mourning in the local community.
A member of the Irish Parliament representing Donegal, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, confirmed that two young lives were lost—Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda.
In an effort to assist the affected families, he announced the launch of a GoFundMe fundraiser.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Mac Lochlainn expressed sorrow over the loss, noting the emotional toll it has taken on the community.
He described the deaths as deeply saddening and called for public support for the bereaved families.
The fundraiser, initiated by Insight Inishowen in collaboration with The Exchange Community Centre, had by Monday surpassed its €40,000 goal, raising over €41,500.
Organizers said the funds would be evenly distributed between both families to help cover funeral expenses.
Insight Inishowen, which had connections to the families and the deceased, described the incident as devastating and called on the public to support the grieving families in any way possible.
They assured that all donations would be used solely for that purpose.
The incident comes just days after another tragic drowning involving a Nigerian teenager in the UK.
On April 30, 16-year-old Valentine Ikechukwu lost his life after getting into difficulty while swimming at Colwick Country Park. Authorities in Nottinghamshire confirmed his death on May 9.