Two mothers faced ‘worst day of their lives’ after sons die off Co Donegal coast

By Rebecca Black, PA

Two mothers in Co Donegal faced the “worst day of their lives” after two teenage boys died off the coast.

Matt Sibanda, 18, originally from Zimbabwe, and Emmaneul Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria, were understood to be playing football on Saturday when they went into the sea after a ball, and got into difficulty.

Mr Sibanda’s body was recovered from Lough Swilly on Saturday evening, while Emmanuel was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, but died in the early hours of Sunday.

A vigil was held in their memory in Buncrana on Sunday evening, and another vigil was held on Monday evening in Londonderry.

Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana.

Ruth Garvey-Williams, from community centre The Exchange which supports asylum seekers, has been working with the families of both boys, and described the deaths as a “dreadful tragedy”.

She described Mr Sibanda as a “wonderful young man, kind and caring”, and a very good student who was about to take his Leaving Cert and was looking forward to college. She said Emmanuel was a “gentle giant” who volunteered at The Exchange, and looked out for others.

“This is a such a dreadful tragedy to hit our community, and especially for those who are asylum seekers, who come here for safety… and have faced the worst day of their life with a loss, both mothers, the loss of their eldest son, so there’s heartbreak, absolute heartbreak here,” she told the BBC.

“These are amazing people who have fled terrible tragedies in their home countries, and have come to find safety here in Buncrana, and then to face this – it is every mother’s worst nightmare.”

She paid tribute to the wider Buncrana community for rallying around the families, adding the response has been “heart-warming”.