MORE than £24,000 has been raised to help cover the legal costs of an inquest into the death of a talented teenager who drowned last summer.

At an event on Tuesday evening, friends and family gathered to enjoy a series of live performances and take part in a raffle, all with the aim of raising money to help Raymi Saldaña Rojas’s parents in their legal battle.

Raymi, 14, grew up in Seven Sisters Road and played at prestigious music venues across London. With his parents Jeanette and Carlos he performed traditional Latin American music in the trio Sagrada Familia UK, and was the youngest person ever to play at the Jazz Cafe.

He was taken on holiday with a friend and his family to Amsterdam in July but the trip turned to tragedy when the group were on a boat in the River IJ and the teenager ended up in the water and drowned.

Raymi Saldaña Rojas was a talented musician

His parents say they have been left searching for answers about exactly what happened and hope to get some clarity at an inquest.

Musicians and singers from his parents’ native countries in South America performed a series of songs and spoke of what the teenager meant to the community.

“Thank you for giving us Raymi. He was part of our community. We miss him deeply,” said musician Eli Rosas.

Raymi’s mother, Jeanette Rojas, said: “We have a great support. This is an amazing community. It is so beautiful. Raymi represented that it could be any other child.

“Many of the people in the community, they feel like it could be them. They want to know how it could be happen, why wasn’t he saved”.

She wished especially to thank Eleanor Thorn who helped organise the event.

Raymi’s mother, Jeanette Rojas at the event: ‘It was a beautiful idea, but difficult to enjoy’

Ms Rojas, a musician herself, told the Tribune how she has been unable to return to the stage following her son’s death.

“Before it was easy to be on the stage, but now it is so difficult,” she said. “It was a beautiful idea but it is difficult to enjoy it in the circumstances. The performances were beautiful, but I am not in the mood to enjoy the performances.”

According to the family, the date of the inquest has been delayed as more evidence must be gathered from abroad.

Ms Rojas said: “We are waiting for the inquest. We had the date before, and the date was like a goal but we don’t have it now.

“It’s difficult. I hope we can get something.

“If we don’t find a light of justice or hope to honour my son’s life, we are going to stand up on the stage to shout justice.”

Imran Khan Solicitors have quoted the family almost £60,000 for representation at the inquest. The family are not eligible for financial aid as Raymi died abroad. They are continuing to ask for donations to help cover the cost of the legal fees.

Their crowdjustice page can be viewed at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice-for-raymi/