Musician, 14, Died In A Tragedy During An Amsterdam Boat Trip While Parents Seek Answers To The Death Of The Son 15/03/2025

The mourning parents of a 14 -year -old “virtuoso” musician who died during his vacation Amsterdam are looking for answers to the death of their son.

Despite his young age, the multi-instrumentalist Raymi Saldaña Rojas had won several prestigious prizes and had played alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Maida Vale Studios, while becoming the youngest person to whom London‘S jazz cafe.

But in July 2024, when he was on vacation with friends and their family in Amsterdam, the life of the teenager born in London was interrupted during a boat trip, when Raymi – who could not swim – found himself in the water.

Raymi Saldaña Rojas won several awards for his music (provided))

Raymi’s parents, Jeanette Rojas and Carlos Saldaña, said The independent That they are still looking for answers in the circumstances of his death at the IJ bay at the Amsterdam Sea Front, how destroyed “our world”.

While a coroner will soon hold a investigationThe family is not eligible for a representation of legal aid at the hearing and seeks to finance the money required to pay lawyers and lawyers, via a Crowd.

Until now, they have collected nearly £ 20,000, largely thanks to the “incredible support” of the London Hispanic and Latin American community.

But the mother and father of Raymi – who are also musicians, Bolivia and Peru respectively, and who played in a trio with Raymi called Sagrada Familia – remain far from the objective of £ 58,000 that their lawyer advises may be necessary.

Mr. Saldaña said:: “We mourn a lot. I feel useless. I used to play instruments to support people because it’s my (way) of life … and now I’m stuck. I can’t play because (everything reminds me) my son and it hurts a lot.

“So I really appreciate if people can help resolve what happened, because we don’t know – we need answers.”

Raymi and his parents played in a trio called Sagrada Familia (provided))

Ms. Rojas said: “Since my son was small, he was always with us – we were together with the family. It was our way of living – with music, with family, with the community. So the whole community knows Raymi. This is why the community gives back, but we are still far (target). »»

Describing the impact of her son’s loss, Ms. Rojas said: “One day we were as happy as any other parent, waiting (see) our child – Raymi was our only son – more and more, to realize all their dreams, to have a family perhaps.”

She added: “We try to understand – why we, why our son. I could die, but why my son? He deserved to live. As parents, we are so mourning, but it is my son – his voice was cut. No one can explain.

“My son, as – all young children – had his own world, his own dreams, but now from one moment to another, everything is gone. Every morning, we try to say “Oh no, it’s a nightmare and we will wake up”. But never.

“So we want to tell our story with others, because we don’t want other families to suffer from a similar story. Maybe after finding justice, if possible, honor my son how he deserves, (as it is great). And maybe he can inspire other children.

“But for the moment, we want to find the truth and it is justice for us to know what happened.”

A necrology In The guardian By journalist Silvia Rothlisberger, a family friend, described Raymi as “passionate about peace, justice and humanity” and declared that he “will remain memories for his kindness and humility”.

After going to William Ellis school in Gospel Oak, Raymi was supported for four years by the London Music Fund and attended the Islington music education, where he played as part of the Flute ensemble.

Nine years, he won a Young Sounds UK Prize, who saw him play the Royal Academy of Music, Leeds Conservatoire and the Maida Vale studios of the BBC. In 2023, at the age of 13, he won an “honorable mention” at the Royal Academy Hosted New Talent Festival.

Raymi was also a passionate reader and poet, and his school set up a writing price in English on his behalf, as well as a music price at Music Education Islington.

His mother said The independent:: “”It’s so beautiful to see how they honor it, but in the end, it does not fill our empty souls. But what can we do? We must continue.

“I hope people can be touched by our history and support us … to make sure we have a good investigation and go beyond – not just the investigation – to find real justice.”