A British man drowned in Portugal whilst trying to save his best friend's life, his sister has revealed. King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving on holiday in Albufeira on Portugal's southern coast.
The pair are believed to have drowned in a hotel swimming pool on July 15. Candles, flowers and tealights spelling out the men's names have since been laid near flats on Ipswich Waterfront.
Sister pays tribute online
Kemi Edonmi, King's sister, paid tribute to her brother online, writing: "My best friend is really gone. Rest in peace to my big brother and his best friend Mo, we love you and will never forget you both."
She said the whole family was comforted by the fact that King died in Christ. "From Jesus - For Jesus - Back to Jesus. We shall all meet again," she wrote.
Heroic attempt to save friend
Edonmi revealed that King had died whilst trying to save Mo's life. "My brother died trying to save his friend's life," she said.
Some local reports suggested the men had been drinking, but Edonmi insisted this was not true. "My brother and Mo do not drink and were not intoxicated at the time of the incident," she wrote.
False reports cause pain
She criticised articles containing false information, saying they were causing pain to those closest to the victims. "Articles with false information and insensitive comments don't know the pain they're causing the people closest to King and Mo," she said.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the families of two British men who have died in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities."
Fundraising reaches £22,000
A fundraising page launched in the men's memory has raised more than £22,000 to help pay for the repatriation of their bodies. It said: "On what was meant to be a joyful holiday in Portugal, our two dear friends Mo and King tragically lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving."
The page added: "What was supposed to be sunshine and laughter turned into heartbreak no one could have imagined." The Policia Judiciaria, Portugal's criminal investigation police, said the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
Police confirm accidental death
A spokesperson said: "The inspection of the scene revealed no evidence of criminal activity. Witnesses to the events were interviewed, confirming the investigation's belief that it was an accident."
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
