They called him 鈥淒unga鈥� 鈥� a tribal family name from his native Sudan.

It has been nearly two weeks since former Abbotsford football star Samwel Uko died by suicide in a Saskatchewan lake at the age of 20, but the stinging pain still has the Uko family reeling.

Justin Paul, Uko鈥檚 uncle who lived with the family for many years in Abbotsford before moving to Calgary, was shocked to hear the news of his passing late on the evening of May 21.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been hard, it鈥檚 been tough,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e just 鈥� I don鈥檛 know. We are a very small family and the first immigrants from back home to come to Canada. This is all the family we鈥檝e got.鈥�

Paul said his nephew was special and managed to always put those around him in a better mood.

鈥淪amwel was a very happy person,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e always tried to make everyone feel welcome around him. He was a people person; everyone loved to talk to Samwell and loved his smile. He was a problem-solver. He was just an awesome guy, and it鈥檚 a big loss for us.鈥�

At the time of his death, Uko was in his second season with the 91原创 Rams.

Paul said Uko made the drive to Regina on May 19 to visit his aunt and cousins. He said Uko woke up on the morning of May 21 and told his family that he had been hearing voices in his head, and he was acting unusual.

Paul said that Uko had never been diagnosed with any sort of mental-health issues and had never spoken of them in the past.

He said that Uko had also never suffered any significant head injuries from his many years of playing football. It鈥檚 a mystery to Paul and his family what sparked these issues.

Uko鈥檚 cousin then took him to a Regina hospital, but was not allowed to enter the facility due to COVID-19 restrictions that were implemented at the time that limited hospital attendees from bringing others with them.

A series of miscommunications then followed at the hospital, which Paul said led to his nephew鈥檚 death.

鈥淭hey let us down,鈥� Paul said. 鈥淗is cousin went with him and they told him to leave. The cousin tried to tell them that he needed to explain Samwel鈥檚 situation but they said, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 need you鈥� and they called security on him. He then wrote his number down on a piece of paper so they could call him to explain what was wrong with Samwel.鈥�

That phone call never happened.

About 45 minutes later, Samwel called his cousin to say he could be picked up. Samwel then told his cousin that he received a prescription from the hospital and to go to a pharmacy to pick up his medication.

Paul said that, unfortunately, that 鈥減rescription鈥� turned out to be a business card with a 1-800 number that had to be called to qualify for Saskatchewan health care.

鈥淕iven his mental status at the time, he thought they gave him a prescription,鈥� Paul said.

Uko became frustrated at the pharmacy and then told his cousin to take him home. A few hours later, he was dead in Wascana Lake.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I feel disappointed and horrible from the hospital,鈥� Paul said. 鈥淭here was someone there who volunteered and said, 鈥楪ive me a call and I will explain what is happening,鈥� but they did not do that.鈥�

that a policy change has now been made that a family member or support person will be allowed for those seeking help. Livingstone said that the new policy change was not related to Uko鈥檚 death.

鈥淚n my view it does have something to do with it, even if he denies it,鈥� Paul said. 鈥淚 think it shouldn鈥檛 take my nephew鈥檚 death for them to change the policy. It鈥檚 something they should have done long time ago. It feels too little, too late for us.鈥�

Paul also said that, although Livingstone did offer his condolences to the Uko family in today鈥檚 press conference, no one from the SHA has reached out to the family.

He said hospital staff did not do their best to help his nephew.

鈥淲e needed someone to tell the hospital staff, 鈥楾his is what is happening. This is what this person is going through.鈥� They didn鈥檛 do that,鈥� Paul said.

The SHA has an ongoing investigation into what happened, but nothing has been released. Details from an autopsy on Uko鈥檚 body have also not yet been released. A request for an update from the SHA by The News was not given.

Paul said the support from the Abbotsford community has been heartwarming. A raised double its goal, and that was started to raise awareness for mental-health issues has over 28,000 signatures.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been fabulous,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are showing the love and kindness to all of us. It has been really great seeing the community coming together. It shows how much he was loved by his peers. We owe them for all the love they have shown us.鈥�

Paul said he hopes his nephew鈥檚 death can lead to more discussion and aid for those dealing with mental-health issues.

鈥淲e, as a people, have to be able to talk openly about mental health because there are a lot of people dealing with it behind closed doors and they don鈥檛 want to talk about it,鈥� he said. 鈥淢edical staff should be trained to know what to do when someone comes in under distress like Samwel did. Instead of just sending them away, they should get more information before letting them go, and follow up.鈥�

Paul added that he hopes people remember Uko fondly.

鈥淗e was a great guy in his young age,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople have to love each other, talk to each other and be there for each other. I hope this can lead to more people talking about this important issue because, especially with the young guys, people need to address it and adjust.鈥�

Paul said the community is invited to Uko鈥檚 celebration of life. A viewing occurs at Grace Gospel Church at 2087 McMillan Rd. in Abbotsford on Friday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A service will follow the Saturday viewing.