'Our Beloved Angel': Girl Dies While Playing with Friends a Day before Her 8th Birthday

• A girl from Ireland went to the beach a day before her birthday, unaware she would never return home alive.
• A massive search operation was launched after she disappeared while swimming on the beach.
• The incident occurred a day before her 8th birthday, which she would have celebrated with her twin brother.

A day before her birthday, Emily Roman was enjoying a day at the beach with her friends, unaware that it would be the last day of her life. The girl lived with her parents, Marta and Slawomir, her twin brother, Jeremy, and her older sister, Inga, in their Crosshaven, Ireland, home.

Originally from Poland, the family had lived in Crosshaven for a decade. The little girl and her twin were second-graders at Templebreedy National School, which they had joined in 2020.

The little girl, known for her fun-loving personality, was at Fountainstown Beach in Cork when the unexpected happened. She loved swimming and was having fun with her friends in the sea when a freak wave took her away. No one knew that the fun day would suddenly turn into a tragedy.

Soon after the wave washed the girl away at around 4:30 p.m. on September 5, 2023, the authorities launched a massive search operation to locate her. Some officials looked for her by air, while others used the sea route to find her.

About three hours later, the girl's body was located and brought to shore. Marta and Slawomir were devastated to see their lifeless daughter. They had no idea that fate wouldn't allow their little girl to celebrate her eighth birthday. The Crosshaven Coastguard reported:

"She was transported by the Irish CoastGuard jeep to our local station where she was later met by her family and transported to CUH for post-mortem."

The Little Girl Was Loved by Her Family and Friends

Roman had won everyone's hearts because of her vibrant personality. She was the best sister to her siblings, a loving daughter to her parents, and a friend that every child her age wanted.

A family friend, Beata O'Sullivan, set up an online fundraiser to collect money for Roman's funeral and memorial services, referring to her as "our beloved angel." O'Sullivan remembered Roman as a kind girl who was always happy. She said:

"She touched the lives of everyone she met with her warm smile and boundless enthusiasm."

After remembering the little girl, O'Sullivan requested people to participate in the fundraiser. She stated, "Your contributions will allow us to give Emily the dignified farewell she deserves and alleviate the financial burden on her grieving family during this incredibly difficult time."

Meanwhile, Roman's family thanked those who participated in the search operation to locate her. They said everyone could attend the funeral but requested privacy as they mourned their irreplaceable loss.

Roman's family had planned to bury her on September 9 at St John's Cemetery, Ballinrea, after her requiem mass scheduled at 11:30 in the Church of Our Lady and St John.

People Shared Their Tributes to Honor the Little Girl

The little girl was known for her bright personality and beautiful smile. The unexpected news of her death had left many people devastated, including her school management. One of her neighbors said:

"Sleep tight, sweet, sweet little girl. The estate will never be the same without your precious smile."

Meanwhile, the Templebreedy National School said in a statement, "The entire school community in our small Church of Ireland school in Crosshaven, County Cork, together with the local parish and community, are in shock and are utterly devastated at the death of our 2nd class pupil Emily Roman."

The school management felt terrible for Roman's family as they dealt with the heartbreaking situation. The principal, Dorris Bryan, also expressed her feelings regarding the unexpected incident.

She remembered Roman as the loving girl who mingled with her friends and had a "beautiful smile." Bryan was also the girl's class teacher, so she knew how talented the little one was. She extended her heartfelt condolences to the little girl's devastated parents and siblings and hoped to support the school community during this difficult time.

Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork Paul Colton also extended his sympathy to the girl's family. As a school patron, he knew the unfortunate incident had left everyone in the community "utterly devastated."

Here is another story about two best friends killed on their way to prom minutes after they took their last photos in their beautiful dresses.