'He was the most wonderful, honest person': US man who drowned saving friend laid to rest
Some of the mourners at the celebration of Alex Warnick’s life in Glasnevin crematorium on Tuesday. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
The father of a US homeless man who died in a drowning accident alongside another man in Dublin earlier this month, broke down in tears while on speaker phone from America during his son's funeral service.
Alex Warnick, 41, from Oregon died on July 6 when he tried to save his friend Donal Scanlon, a native of Ballybunion, Co. Kerry after he fell into the Grand Canal. Mr Scanlon also died.
A celebration of Alex’s life in Glasnevin crematorium on Tuesday was attended by around 20 people, including what he called his “street family”.
A montage of photos was projected on a screen during the celebration which was watched online by his family — his father Greg, his stepmother Susan and brothers Josh and Garrett in the US.
During the intimate 30-minute ceremony Eamonn O’Connell from McGuinness & O’Connell T/A Dublin City Funerals who conducted the service introduced Alex’s father to the congregation via loudspeaker on his phone.
Greg Warnick said: “I’d like to say a few words, but the biggest words from our family is just to say thank you. I don’t know whether I can really go on,” before he broke down in tears.
He said he was speaking on behalf of his wife and Alex's two brothers and said again “thank you, thank you thank you” before receiving a round of applause.
A number of Alex’s friends spoke of their love for him and described him as a “hero” as well as a talented musician.
His best friend Brian “Beezor” or "Rasher" O’Reilly said some of Alex’s ashes will go to America and some will stay here.
“That’s what me and his family agreed on,” he said. “We were his street family.
“Alex came to Dublin from Cork five years ago, at the start of lockdown, I had an apartment at the time, I rented him a corner of my living room floor,” he said.
“We all lost our jobs in covid and couldn’t pay the rent and got evicted. He was the most honest, crazy, wonderful person. I am in constant contact with Greg (Alex’s father).
He said both he and Alex had produced an album, entitled “DJ D.O.D (Delirium of Disorder).
“It’s free online, I would encourage everyone to listen to it. He was my best friend. I knew Donal too that he jumped in to save, but that was him, that is what he would do.”
Another friend, Nick Hilton from London travelled for the service.
“We met in 1998 in a skate park in London and became friends for many, many years” he told the . "He was the friendliest guy I knew; he was my best friend. He was there for you. We made psychedelic trance music. I’m still doing it. I’ll never forget him."
Tony Hynes from Dublin said he lived with Alex in a homeless shelter.
“There was three of us, and he would wake in the middle of the night doing tattoos. We were very lucky, the three of us were in the same room and we kept the place lovely.
“I could never see this coming. It is an amazing act of honour what he did, jumping in there, he wouldn’t see someone stuck.
"I’m in the system 13 years, I’ve seen many horrors and lots of deaths, but this has touched me very deeply."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
