Mother of teen who drowned in Donegal was on beach when tragedy unfolded

Two teenagers who died after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of Buncrana, Co Donegal had entered the water to retrieve a football. The victims have been named as 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola (R) from Nigeria and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda (L), who was from Zimbabwe

The mother of one of the teenagers who drowned off the coast of Donegal was on the beach nearby as the tragedy unfolded.

Matt Sibanda, aged 18, and Emmanuel Famiola, 16, died after they and a third male got into difficulties in Lough Swilly close to Ned’s Point near Buncrana at around 4pm on Saturday.

As news filtered out of a major rescue operation taking place in the locality, residents of a nearby IPAS centre where Matt lived went to the beach as it emerged that one of those in difficulty could be from the centre.

One of the residents told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that Matt’s mother was among those waiting for news on the beach, adding: “It was a painful one, it was sad for all of us.” 

She said she was with Bonnie and described it as a “painful experience that nobody should go through”.

She added: “It has been a sad one for everyone you know. We all take each other as a family so it’s been very sad for everyone in total, including the two centres that were affected in Buncrana.” 

Matt had been living in the centre with his mother and his young sister. The family had come from Zimbabwe. He was due to sit his Leaving Certificate exams early next month.

He and Emmanuel, who was from Nigeria and lived in the second IPAS centre, were very close friends and had been playing football with a third friend when tragedy struck. They had gotten into difficulty when trying to retrieve the ball.

Emmanuel was rescued but died later in hospital. Matt’s body was found at around 9pm on Saturday night.

The third male, aged 19, managed to swim to shore and was taken to hospital.

Emmanuel was finishing his transition year in Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana and had just completed a week of work experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin last week. 

'Heartbroken'

He had recently taken part in a run with the Buncrana branch of Sanctuary Runners. The group issued a statement in which sympathy was extended to the families of both boys.

It said: “Our hearts break for their loved ones and friends. Both young men were known to our Sanctuary Runners group in Buncrana — Emmanuel had run with the group recently. 

"Sanctuary Runners in Ireland and beyond are heartbroken. We know the strong caring community in Buncrana will give the families the love and support they will so desperately need at such a tragic time x” 

On Monday, the Irish Refugee Council paid tribute to the boys, saying: “We are saddened by the tragic loss of two young lives, Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda, in Donegal. We send our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and community, and hold in our thoughts the young person who is recovering.”