During Heavy Down Pour… Fallen Wall Claims Four
By John Kelly Marah
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone —
Captain of Sierra Leone’s national boxing team, Ali Turay, broke down in tears as he pleaded for government help following a tragic wall collapse that killed four members of his family.
The incident occurred on 23 July 2025 at the New Englandville Community during heavy rains, in a densely populated neighborhood. Among the victims were Turay’s own child, his mother-in-law, and two children belonging to his wife’s brother. Ali Turay, Captain of the Sierra Leone National Boxing Team and also serving with the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, in an emotional statement to the press, relayed the last moments of the deceased family members:
“On the day of the incident, I was at home with my family, including my mother-in-law, who had come over. She was cooking and I told her to hurry because I wanted to help serve the food. Suddenly, the wall collapsed on the house.”
Turay said he attempted to enter the house to rescue his family, but was held back due to the crumbling structure and worsening weather conditions.
“Some people from the community came to help, but the rain was pouring down heavily. My mother-in-law, my child, and the two children of my wife’s brother were all trapped inside,” he said. “I lost four people that day.”
As of Wednesday, the body of Turay’s child is yet to be recovered from the debris.
“I’m begging the government to help me. These people are still up there [in the rubble]. No one has come to show real concern or help us recover the bodies,” Turay said. “Please, I’m calling on the government and the authorities to assist us in this time of pain and tragedy.”
The disaster has sent shockwaves through the local community, which continues to mourn the loss amid calls for better emergency response and support for affected families.
