The devastated dad of a teen drowning victim today breaks his silence to say: "I miss him so much."
Tony Lulendo also reveals that he was by Bradley Lulendo's hospital bed when he lost his fight for life - but did not get a chance to say goodbye to him.
"I really loved him and I miss him so much," he said at his central Dublin home - as he held up a photograph of tragic Bradley, who died after getting into difficulty while swimming with pals at a North Dublin beach on Monday.
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The 14-year-old was rushed to hospital by helicopter following the incident close to Howth, but lost his fight for life later that evening with his father by his side.
Mr Lulendo, who is originally from Angola but has lived in Ireland for 25 years, held back tears as he revealed pals who were with Bradley tried to save him.
He said: "The water was too strong for him and he was carried away. He was with four friends and they did everything they could to save him. Two had to be taken to hospital as well."
Mr Lulendo got a call from Bradley's mother to alert him to the incident and he raced to hospital to be by his son's bedside. And Mr Lulendo fought back tears as he revealed he did not get to say farewell to his boy, adding: "He was not able to talk.
"The police tried to talk to me but I was crying so much that they did not get a chance to talk to me.
"Then the doctor told me he had died. I miss him. He was a very happy child.
“He loved sports and Manchester United.”
Bradley, from Richmond Road in central Dublin, was swimming in the sea with three pals at Burrow Beach - known locally as ‘Hole in the Wall’ beach on the Howth peninsula.
It is understood he got into difficulty at around 7.30pm and the alarm was raised.
Lifeguards on duty at the Lifeguard station went to his assistance.
Howth Inshore lifeboat was also tasked with the rescue operation along with Howth Coast Guard Shore team. Bradley was brought ashore in the lifeboat and later airlifted to Beaumont Hospital onboard Rescue 116.
He was later transferred to CHI Temple Street where he later passed away from his injuries. Fingal County Council confirmed there were three lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident and alerted the Coast Guard.
The council expressed its sympathies to the family and friends of the boy who died, and said it is assisting gardaí with their investigation.
Gardai confirmed they were investigating the death of Bradley, who studied at school in Tyrrelstown, west Dublin.
In a statement they said: "Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident at approximately 7:30pm on Monday, 11th July, at Burrow Beach, Co. Dublin.
“A male teen got into difficulty while swimming and was removed from the water.
"He was taken to Beaumont Hospital and then later to CHI at Temple Street in Dublin, where he later passed away from his injuries."
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