'She was a very gifted young girl': Victim of Fountainstown tragedy named locally

Emili Roman was a 2nd class student at Templebreedy National School. Tomorrow would have been her 8th birthday

Emiiy Roman. Picture: GoFundMe

The young girl who died after getting into difficulty while swimming off Fountainstown beach has been named locally as Emili Roman. 

Emili was a 2nd class pupil at Templebreedy National School in nearby Crosshaven. She was a twin and tomorrow would have been her 8th birthday.

In a statement this morning, the school said it was "in shock and utterly devastated" at Emili's tragic death and "heartbroken" for her family and loved ones.

The school said Emili and her twin brother had joined the school in Junior Infants in 2020. 

School principal Doris Bryan, who was also Emili's teacher, described Emili as "kind, with a bubbly personality."

She had a beautiful smile. She was greatly loved by everyone and was very popular with all her friends.

"She was also very artistic and a gifted young girl," she said.

On behalf of the school, Ms Bryan extended her deepest sympathies Emili’s parents, Marta and Slawomir, her older sister, Inga, and her twin brother. 

lowers left on the wall by Fountainstown Beach of as a tribute to Emili Roman who lost her life in a tragic incident on Tuesday. Picture: David Creedon

"We are doing our best at the moment to make our school a safe space for all our school community to be together and to support each other as we remember Emili and come to terms with what has happened," she said. 

"Our primary focus, for Emili’s sake, is with her family and loved ones."

A family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family cover the costs of Emili's funeral and to ensure it is "a heartfelt celebration of her beautiful life".

Paying tribute, family friend Beata O'Sullivan wrote that Emili was "a ray of sunshine in our lives, a compassionate friend, a loving daughter, and a cherished sister."

"Her laughter was infectious, and her kindness knew no bounds," Ms O'Sullivan said. 

"She touched the lives of everyone she met with her warm smile and boundless enthusiasm."

"We are grateful for your generosity, and we want to thank you in advance for your support during this profoundly challenging period in our lives. Emili's memory will live on in our hearts."

Shock and devastation

The Church of Ireland school said it has implemented a Critical Incident Plan, and that psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) attended the school this morning to support and advise staff and pupils during this difficult time. 

Picture: David Creedon

"Most of us cannot begin to imagine the suffering that this family must now be going through. We are all, however, in shock and devastated," said patron of the school, Bishop Paul Colton.

He extended his sympathies to Emili's family and friends, everyone at Templebreedy National School, and the local community. 

"A tragedy like this is having a traumatic effect also on this small parish school at the start of this new school year, and also the wider community. I am visiting the school this morning and throughout the day," he said. 

Bishop Colton also said his thoughts were with the emergency services personnel who responded to Tuesday's tragedy. 

"I am also very conscious of the role played by the first responders, some of whom I know personally, and everyone in the rescue services and I’m conscious of the impact a tragedy such as this has on each of them as individuals."

A search operation was initiated at around 4.30pm yesterday after Emili got into difficulty in the water off Fountainstown Beach. Her body was recovered around 7.45pm and brought to Cork University Hospital, where an autopsy will take place in due course.