Sister of man who died on Bibby Stockholm thanks UK public for appeal generosity

The appeal launched by the family of Leonard Farruku to help repatriate his body to Albania has nearly doubled its target.

Leonard Farruku died aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge last month (Handout/PA)

The sister of an Albanian man who died on the Bibby Stockholm barge has thanked the UK public for its generosity after a fundraising appeal to repatriate his body has nearly doubled its target of £10,000.

Leonard Farruku was found unresponsive on board the accommodation vessel at Portland Port, Dorset, on December 12.

An inquest opened by Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin heard that a post-mortem examination found he had died from “compression of the neck” caused by “suspension by ligature”.

The hearing last month was told there were no suspicious circumstances and the case was adjourned for a full hearing to be held at a later date.

Mr Farruku’s family set up a GoFundMe page to raise £10,000 to repatriate the 27-year-old’s body, which remains in a Dorset mortuary.

By Wednesday, the campaign had reached £18,784.

Mr Farruku’s sister, Jola Dushku, said that the family had faced the “double tragedy” of his death and not being able to afford to bring his body back to Albania for a funeral.

She added in a statement on the fundraising page: “Our brother Leonard Farruku’s life ended unimaginably for all of us while in the UK.

“As it has been reported widely in the UK media, Leonard died inside the Bibby Stockholm barge where the Home Office is accommodating people.

“An inquest has been opened into the circumstances of his death. Leonard’s body has been in the Dorset morgue since his death on December 12 2023.

“We kindly ask for help to raise funds to have Leonard’s body returned from the UK back home to Albania to rest in peace.

“With thanks and appreciation. Jola, Leonard’s sister.”

One donor posted on the fundraising page: “I am so sorry that your brother died in such awful circumstances and hope that having him back home will bring you some peace.”

Another wrote to Mr Farruku’s family saying: “I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope our donations show you that our government may be heartless but British people are usually ok.”

Another posted: “This is a sad situation beyond words and it’s basic humanity for the UK to facilitate his journey home so his family can grieve properly and say goodbye. RIP.”

Ms Dushku later posted: “I cannot thank enough all the people from the UK, the Albanian community in the UK, and all Albanians worldwide for their generosity in helping us to secure the necessary money by using GofundMe, to bring back home the body of my brother Leonard Farruku and for his funeral.

“Your kindness and generosity will be in my heart for the rest of my life and bring to our family the same sort of comfort now being able to repatriate his body.

“It’s a strong demonstration of the people’s humanity in the UK compared to the Home Office not willing to help for the body of my brother to be repatriated in Albania.

“All this was achieved in one day thanks to all of you and thanks to the PA news agency who supported our campaign, UK media, and Albanian media, in coordination with our family solicitor Mr Mark Scott, and the assistance of the Inquest organisation in London. Thank you from my heart. Jola.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly previously said that Mr Farruku’s sudden death would be “fully” investigated.

The Daily Telegraph, which first reported the deceased’s name, has stated that he paid 4,000 euro (£3,400) to cross the English Channel in a small boat to arrive in the country.

Ms Dushku, 33, who lives in Lombardy in Italy, told the newspaper: “When I spoke with him last time, he told me that the conditions in that boat were not bad but they were treated by the guards like animals.”

An impact assessment, which found the policy of housing asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge discriminated on the grounds of age and sex, was deleted from the Government’s website last month, two days after being published.

A note on the website said the impact assessment was “published in error”.

The assessment found that the policy of housing up to 500 single men on the barge was “directly discriminating in relation to age (and) sex” because the barge was only suitable for men aged 18 to 65.

The assessment argued that the greater need to house male asylum seekers within that age range in accommodation other than hotels justified discriminating on the grounds of age and sex.

It is understood that the Home Office only pays for repatriation following a death in detained detention, which it says does not cover the Bibby Stockholm as the residents are able to leave at will.

A Home Office spokesman said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

“The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance and we take this responsibility very seriously.”

The fundraising appeal can be found at https://gf.me/v/c/lyc5/tphag-leonard-farruku.