Funeral for stabbed teenager

13 March 2019, 13:58 | Updated: 13 March 2019, 14:00

The death of 17-year-old Yousef Makki "has torn a huge, empty hole inside of everyone's hearts", his family said as hundreds of people gathered for the funeral of the teenager who was stabbed to death in Greater Manchester.

Yousef, who dreamed of becoming a heart surgeon, was attacked on March 2 in Hale Barns, a leafy village south of Manchester.

On Friday, his family was joined by hundreds of people at the Dar Al Hadi Foundation, in the Ardwick area of the city, for a traditional Muslim funeral service ahead of a burial ceremony at Southern Cemetery.

Among the mourners were scores of teenagers from Manchester Grammar School, where Yousef, from Burnage, was a student.

He is thought to have won a scholarship to attend the £12,000-a-year independent school.

Yousef's family issued a statement to coincide with the service.

It said: "We can't express how devastatingly painful the loss of a brother, son, cousin and ultimately a best friend has been. Our hearts will bleed eternally for the loss of our beautiful, clever and talented brother Yousef.

"Yousef was an inspiration to all. His determination, wit and dedication to his family and studies were the foundations of his outstanding personality and he showed an extremely promising future that was tragically cut short.

"Yousef's early departure has torn a huge, empty hole inside of everyone's hearts. For his friends, family and even neighbours, a world without him is a world turned upside down.

"Yousef didn't care about circumstances or which area he came from. Instead, Yousef strived to do the best he could and use any opportunities given to him to the fullest.

"Words alone cannot convey the trauma and emptiness this has left, particularly for our family.

"Although not in physical presence there are many, many lasting memories that we all have of Yousef that will last a lifetime, even though, unfortunately, he couldn't."