Heartwarming moment teen receives ‘message from beyond the grave’ from best friend who drowned
THIS is the heartwarming moment a teenager receives a “message from beyond the grave” from her best friend who drowned.
Emotional footage shows Taylor McCormack, 19, from Southend-on-Sea, opening her unique present-a Build-a-Bear with a voice recording.
The clip shared on TikTok shows the teen breaking into tears as she listens to the voice of her pal, Rodney Zinoro who tragically drowned in a Manchester canal in May 2020.
Taylor can be seen pressing the teddy bear’s hand before listening to Rodney’s voice.
She told Essex Live: “The fact that his voice is in a teddy, it’s just so pure and I can hug it and listen to it when I’m sad so I think I was just happy.”
Taylor added: “I was just shocked that someone would even do that.
“I was like ‘Oh my God, that is the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given me.”
The teddy bear named “Rodney” wears a top of a Gemini, her star sign, and is now placed on Taylor’s bedside table.
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The teddy was a Christmas present from her younger sister Maddie who saved a video of Rodney’s voice.
The teen has admitted that the toy has helped her move forward as she is still shaken by Rodney’s death.
She said: “If I’m sad, I can just talk to it because it’s got his voice. It’s not him, but it’s him to me.
“The feeling to know that the teddy is in my room just made me feel happy.”
The two pals have been inseparable since they met as Year Seven students at Cecil Jones Academy in Southend-on-Sea.
The pair remained close even after Rodney moved to Manchester in Year 10.
Taylor added: “He was such a genuine person and he would literally light up a room as soon as he walked in.
“There was no bad energy, he was just positive vibes, and he was always there if you needed him.
“He was just like the best person ever.”
Rodney was found dead back in 2020, when his body was recovered from Bridgewater Canal, in Greater Manchester.
TRAGIC DEATH
Taylor recalls the heartbreaking moment she received a text from his ex-girlfriend with the news.
She said: “I just broke down, I couldn’t breathe. I [was thinking] ‘This isn’t true, he was one of the best people in the world, why has he been taken so soon?’
“I made myself believe that it wasn’t real. The feeling was just so heavy on your chest, it’s like ‘No way this is real, I’m dreaming.’ I just couldn’t stop crying.
“I was a mess for ages, I still am to be fair. I would just think of him for a day and I’ll just start crying as the emotions just wouldn’t stop.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Following an inquest in August 2021, the investigation into the death of Rodney Zinoro was closed.
“Prior to the inquest, a Home Office Post Mortem concluded Rodney died as a result of drowning, with no injuries as a result of third party involvement.”
Rodney’s body was repatriated to Zimbabwe, where he was originally from and a funeral took place in September 2020.
