Service held to remember west Donegal drowning victim Valerri Strunhar

A service to celebrate the life of Valerri Strunhar, who drowned off the west Donegal coast last Monday, was held on Saturday.

Mr Stunhar fell from rocks and entered the water while fishing near Dungloe.

On Monday at 6.30pm, the Coast Guard in Dublin requested the Arranmore lifeboat to launch to reports of a person in the water off Marameelin, Dungloe.

Mr Strunhar, who was aged in his 60s, was fishing on the rocks when he encountered difficulty.

Mr Strunhar fled war-torn Ukraine and was based at Bunbeg House, The Harbour, Gweedore, since relocating to west Donegal.

Locals spoke fondly of Mr Strunhar, who was frequently spotted on his bike, cycling with his fishing rods.

A service took place on Saturday at McGlynn's Funeral Home in Dungloe.

The Coast Guard's rescue helicopter 118 rescued Mr Strunhar from the water for transfer to Letterkenny University Hospital, but he passed away a short time later.

Arranmore RNLI Relief Resilience coxswain, Trevor Devereux, said: “On behalf of Arranmore RNLI we would like to express our sincere condolences to the family. Also, we would also like to thank the Coast Guard staff with who we work very closely, it is always very sad when the outcome of a rescue isn’t successful.”

Cremation will take place at Lakelands Crematorium Cavan at a later date.