A FUNDRAISER for a father who died after getting into difficulty in the sea has reached its £40,000 target.

Friends of Birol Gundogdu had been raising money for his wife and young daughter, who live in Turkey, after he drowned in the water near Brighton Palace Pier.

The coastguard was alerted to a person in the water at 5.40pm on Friday, July 30.

Birol was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

%image('12861793', type="article-full", alt="Tributes have been paid to Birol Gundogdu")

A close friend set up a GoFundMe page, telling donors that the money would go towards helping Birol’s family who were not only “suffering from this sudden and tragic loss but facing financial difficulties”.

The fundraiser has now raised £43,033 – £3,000 more than its original target.

A funeral took place on Sunday in his hometown of Kalecik in Turkey.

Birol’s friend, who did not want to be named, said the money had “brought some comfort to his family”.

Speaking to The Argus earlier this month, he said he had been “overwhelmed” by the generosity of people who have donated.

%image('12861799', type="article-full", alt="The coastguard was alerted to a person in the water near Brighton Palace Pier)

He said: “It really shows how generous and kind people can be, especially during what has been such a devastating time because of coronavirus.

“Lots of people have lost someone or gone through something similar so they know how it feels.

“There are people from all different ethnic backgrounds who have donated. I can see Turkish names, English names and Arabic names.”

He added that he will remember Birol as a “highly intelligent” man who was “loved by many”.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/BIROL-GUNDOGDU

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