Main image: Matt Sibanda, one of the two teenagers who tragically died off the coast of Buncrana yesterday.
The two teenagers who were killed in yesterday’s tragic swimming tragedy have been named.
Matt Sibanda and Emmanuel Famiola died after getting into difficulty whilst swimming in the area between Ned’s Point and Fahan yesterday afternoon.
Both boys were not Irish nationals, but had been living in the local area for some time.
The alarm was raised at approximately 4pm, with emergency services including the Coast Guard, the Rescue 118 helicopter, Gardaí and ambulance crews rushing to the scene.
One of the teens was rescued from the water and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment, where he sadly passed away overnight.
The body of the second teen who died in the tragedy was recovered from Lough Swilly by search and rescue crews before 10pm last night.
Luckily, a third teen who also got into difficulty was able to swim to shore, and was also transferred to hospital where his condition has been described as comfortable.
A conmunuty prayer vigil will now take place at 4pm at St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana.
Local Cllr Fionán Bradley is urging everyone who can to attend the vigil and show solidarity with the boys and their families and communities following the horrible tragedy.
“Myself and the parish priest organised (the vigil) late last night,” Cllr Bradley told Donegal Daily.
“There was this burning desire to do something to pull the community in together, and pull the refugee community in and show them that we are all supporting them the best that we possibly can through this terrible, terrible tragedy.”
“I would absolutely encourage everybody to come along, so we can all support each other and support the communities that are in Buncrana and that have made it their home.”
