A 16-year-old Nigerian boy, Emmanuel Familola has been buried after drowning while swimming in a river in the Buncrana Community, Ireland.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday, May 10, 2025 after the teenager, alongside two others, encountered difficulties while swimming.
A report noted that a search and rescue party was deployed to the area following an alarm raised by witnesses.
“The body of a teenager has been recovered from waters off the coast of Co Donegal after three teenagers got into difficulty while swimming in Lough Swilly,” the report read.
“The body was discovered last night between Ned’s Point and Fahan, close to the town of Buncrana, and was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital. It followed an extensive air and sea rescue operation to find the teenager who was missing.
“The alarm was raised after the teenagers, aged between 16 and 19, encountered difficulty while swimming around 4 p.m. One of the teenagers managed to swim ashore. A third was taken from the sea and was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital, where his condition is said to be very serious.”
Emmanuel’s funeral was held on Saturday, May 17, at St Mary’s Oratory in the town. It was attended by family and friends.
Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley said Emmanuel ‘had a serene magnetism to him which crossed social, ethnic and cultural boundaries, for his warmth and charisma spoke every language, touched every heart’
During the service, gifts were brought to the altar to remember Emmanuel’s life. These included a collage of photos from his recent work experience with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, as well as a certificate to mark his time there, which he was due to receive earlier this week.
Also brought to the altar was a Manchester City shirt, representing his love of the club and the sport, as well as his Bible to reflect his deep faith.
Following the funeral, Emmanuel was laid to rest at the adjoining Cockhill Cemetery.
