Nigerian Teenager Emmanuel Familola Laid to Rest After Tragic Drowning in Buncrana River, Ireland

The teenagers have been named as 18-year-old Matt Sibanda (right) and 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola (left)

The town of Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland, is in mourning following the tragic death of 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola, a Nigerian teenager who drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming in Lough Swilly on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Emmanuel was one of three teenagers who entered the water near Ned’s Point, reportedly after a football was kicked into the lough during a game on the beach.

The incident, which began around 4 p.m., prompted an immediate and extensive search and rescue operation involving the Irish Coast Guard, an air and sea rescue team, Malin Head Coast Guard, RNLI Lough Swilly lifeboat, and members of the public. A local yacht race was also halted to assist in the search. One of the teenagers managed to swim ashore. Another, 18-year-old Matt Sibanda from Zimbabwe, was later found dead in the water that evening. Emmanuel was pulled from the lough and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The community paid tribute to Emmanuel Familola

The third boy, also a teenager, was helped from the water by a local man and was able to scramble onto the coastal path. His condition has since stabilized.

Emmanuel and Matt had both been living with their families in international protection centres in Buncrana. Community workers and local residents rushed to the scene to support the families. Ruth Garvey-Williams of the Exchange community centre in Buncrana accompanied Emmanuel’s mother, Glory, to the hospital, where they waited through the night. She described the moment Emmanuel passed away as “devastating” and “heartbreaking,” praising the efforts of the ICU medical staff.

A number of tributes have been paid to Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda

On Saturday, May 17, Emmanuel was laid to rest following a funeral service at St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana. Hundreds of people, including friends, classmates, and members of the wider community, gathered to pay their respects. Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley described Emmanuel as having “a serene magnetism” that transcended social, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Symbolic gifts were brought to the altar to celebrate his life: a collage of photographs from his recent internship with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, a certificate from the programme he was due to receive, a Manchester City football shirt reflecting his love for the club, and his Bible, which represented his strong Christian faith.

The burial took place at the adjoining Cockhill Cemetery. The loss of Emmanuel and Matt has left a deep emotional scar on Buncrana and neighboring communities, including Derry, where a vigil was held on Monday night. Flowers were cast into the River Foyle in their memory, as mourners described the tragedy as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”

The remains of Emmanuel Famiola are carried from St Marys Oratory in Buncrana

Local leaders, school principals, and community members have spoken out about the immense sorrow that has gripped the town. Evelyn McLoughlin, principal of Scoil Mhuire, where Emmanuel was a student, said the grief is beyond words. Kevin Cooley, head of Crana College where Matt was enrolled, called it a dark time for the community. Councillor Fionán Bradley, who knew Emmanuel personally, described him as “a beautiful person inside and out.”

Emmanuel recently participated in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Global Ireland Young Leaders programme. In a reflection shared before his death, he wrote about the joy of meeting Ireland’s ambassador and learning about the country’s diplomatic work. The department expressed shock and sadness at his death, describing him as “a bright, engaging, and popular young man.”

Emmanuel's coffin received a guard of honour from pupils of Scoil Mhuire

The Buncrana tragedy has sparked an outpouring of support, with counselling services activated in local schools and the RNLI providing trauma support for rescue personnel. Authorities have since reiterated warnings about the dangers of swimming in the lough, where water conditions can shift rapidly.

As the families of Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda mourn their loss, the communities of Buncrana and beyond continue to grieve two young lives lost far too soon.