Over €26k raised to support family of West Cork boy who died in France after sudden brain aneurysm

Obi Thornhill, from Ballydehob suffered an unexpected and sudden aneurysm on November 1 while on holiday in France and died in the early hours of Sunday, November 3

Obi Thornhill: So far, more than €26,000 from 549 donors have been raised to support Obi's family.
Picture: GoFundMe

More than €26,000 has been raised to help support the family of a young Cork boy who passed away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. 

Obi Thornhill, from Ballydehob, West Cork, suffered an unexpected and sudden aneurysm on November 1 while on holiday in France. 

He was resuscitated and airlifted to hospital where attempts were made to revive him. 

Obi then spent two days in a coma before he died surrounded by his loved ones in the early hours of Sunday, November 3. 

In a post on GoFundMe, family friend and organiser Chani Wates described Obi as a "beautiful, promising, bright and shining young person". 

The family is in a state of shock and devastation and are dealing with all of their unbearable pain and loss in an unfamiliar place, far away from their family and friends.

The fundraiser, which had an initial goal of €10,000 appealed to friends, acquaintances and "compassionate strangers" to donate to make the "practical side of things a little easier for Obi's family". 

Donations have since been flooding and so far, more than €26,000 from 549 donors have been raised to support Obi's family.

In an update on the GoFundMe, Chani Wates added the response to the fundraiser had been "overwhelmingly amazing".

"Thank you every single one of you for showing your love and support in this way," she added. 

All donations made will go towards accommodation costs for family in France and towards funeral costs in Ireland.