Six months prior to his tragic demise on the barge, Leonard Farruku harbored aspirations of starting afresh in Britain.
In an Instagram message to a childhood friend in Tirana, the capital of Albania, the young Albanian expressed his optimism about his stay in the UK since August 2022, hoping to secure his documentation while residing in an asylum seekers’ facility after arriving on a rubber boat.
Having lost both his mother at 17 and his father a few years later, Farruku shared his traumatic experience of sudden bereavement, indicating his current pursuit of asylum and residence in a hotel, seeking solace and divine protection.
Farruku, a 27-year-old former talented accordion player with promising prospects, tragically took his own life in a shower room on the contentious barge housing numerous asylum seekers off the southern coast of Britain on December 12 last year, following signs of distress.
Despite his musical abilities and ambitions, Farruku’s family and acquaintances remain perplexed about the circumstances leading to his untimely death.
“We will miss Leonard a lot. We will be forever heartbroken for the way he gave an end to his life,” expressed his sister Jola Dushku, emphasizing the family’s quest for truth regarding the events that precipitated Farruku’s suicide.
Relatives, friends, and associates from Albania shed light on Farruku’s background, highlighting his compassionate nature and diligent work ethic, his dreams of a musical career overshadowed by the sudden loss of his parents and subsequent hardships.
Farruku’s journey from Vorë to Tirana, his musical pursuits, financial struggles, and eventual move to the UK underscore a narrative of resilience and aspiration marred by personal tragedies and challenges.
The accounts of Farruku’s teachers, friends, and family members paint a picture of a once-promising student and musician grappling with loss, financial strain, and unfulfilled dreams, ultimately seeking a fresh start abroad.
While Farruku’s aspirations and struggles unfolded across different chapters of his life, the unanswered questions surrounding his death on the barge continue to haunt his loved ones, awaiting closure through the forthcoming inquest.