Funeral Wednesday for 14-year-old boy who drowned in Port Stanley

The Muslim community in London, Ont., is rallying around a Syrian newcomer family after the drowning of a young teen while at a family beach day on Sunday in Port Stanley.

Omer Buz, 14, had just graduated from Emily Carr Public School in northwest London, Ont.

Kate Dubinski · CBC News · Posted: Jul 17, 2024 2:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 17, 2024

A young boy in a suit and bow tie. He is 14. He drowned. — Omer Buz, pictured here at his Grade 8 graduation, is being laid to rest Wednesday after drowning in Lake Erie earlier this week. He was 14. (Supplied by Buz family)

A funeral is being held Wednesday for Omer Buz, the 14-year-old boy who drowned in Lake Erie after a family beach outing with his family in Port Stanley.

Buz was at the beach with his dad and brother on Sunday when the waves got rough and they were pulled under the water. Lifeguards pulled dad Lami Buz and his son, Mohammad, 17, but were unable to rescue Omer. The boy's body was recovered on Tuesday after an extensive search.

The funeral Wednesday is at the London Muslim Mosque, with the burial at the Islamic Cemetery.

The Buz family had recently come to London from Turkey, where they lived after leaving Syria during that country's civil war. Omer, also spelled Omar, recently graduated from Emily Carr Public School in London's northwest.

'Lots of pain': Father watches while search for missing son continues in waters off Port Stanley

"He loved his time on the soccer field and was excited to learn new sports during gym class and break times," school officials wrote to the school community this week.

"His dedication to learning English and connecting with his classmates was evident. Over the seven months he spent with us, Omar became an integral part of the Emily Carr community."

An online fundraiser for the family has raised more than $30,500.

A young boy looks at the camera. — This picture of Omer accompanies an online fundraising page started by a family friend. (Supplied by Nadia Fayad)

"The family is completely devastated and shattered. As new refugees to London the family has very little and now with the loss of their son, things are unbearable," family friend Nadia Fayad wrote online.

OPP, firefighters recover body off Port Stanley beach waters

Through a translator, dad Lami told CBC News he'd been looking forward to a better life in Canada after losing two daughters in the earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023. A remaining daughter hopes to emigrate to join her father and brother, Fayad said.

"The Buz family has a daughter living in Turkey that is desperately trying to get to Canada to be with her family during this devastating time," she said. "We are asking the community to help with anything possible to help ease the financial burden and also any travel costs associated with bringing their daughter home."

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET at the Port Stanley Pier this Saturday.