Beach boy Aylan: Aunt blames herself for toddler’s death

A memorial service has been held in Canada for the three-year-old boy who was found dead on a Turkish beach last week. Aylan Kurdi died alongside his five-year old brother Galip and their mother Rehanna while trying to reach the Greek island of Kos. They were hoping to eventually reach Canada to live with family there but, instead, his little body was discovered on the beach of Bodrum and photographs were shown around the world. At the service the children’s aunt Tima Kurdi, who lives in Canada, blamed herself for their deaths.

I blame myself because my brother does not have money. I sent him the money to pay the smuggler and to cross that water.

Aylan’s aunt, Tima Kurdi

A small theatre in Vancouver was packed with family, friends and strangers, white balloons, roses and photos for the memorial service. Balloons were released on the city’s waterfront in memory of the boys and their mother. The family had been fleeing Syria, which has suffered for more than four years under a civil war leaving around 250,000 dead. Ms Kurdi said leaving for a better life in Europe was the “only option” for them, a departure made more urgent after a relative of her sister-in-law was beheaded by militants from Islamic State.

I sent him the money to pay the smuggler and to cross that water.

Ms Kurdi

World Aylan memorial