Joao family overwhelmed by generosity of Islanders

Tuesday 22nd December 2009, 2:57PM GMT.

Guy Plante, managing director of Europcar in the Channel Islands, with some of the staff. Picturer: Tony Pike

The appeal was launched by Guy Plante, managing director of Europcar in the Channel Islands, and staff

GENEROUS Islanders have taken just four days to raise the money needed to take home the body of a Jersey schoolboy who died in a tragic shooting accident abroad.

Last week an appeal was launched to raise £15,000 to repatriate the body of eight-year-old Joao Calaça-Sousa to Madeira, where his family originates.

Joao, a pupil at St John’s Primary School, died of gunshot wounds on 13 December just hours after arriving at his aunt’s house in Venezuela with his mother Louisa and father Roberto.

The incident is being treated as a tragic accident, but no further details of what happened have been revealed.

Today Guy Plante, managing director of Europcar in the Channel Islands, where Roberto works, revealed that generous Islanders had already raised at least £20,000. Mr Plante revealed that one couple alone donated £15,000, with the rest being given by everyone from children to Island firms.

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