A TEENAGER who was the “life and soul” of his family was given a heartfelt farewell from hundreds of mourners yesterday.

Family, friends and school pupils and other members of the Oxford community gathered at the Central Oxford Mosque in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, to say their last goodbyes to Aown Dogar.

The 13-year-old died after being pulled from the River Thames off Weirs Lane last Thursday.

Family members believe the Cheney School pupil jumped in to save a friend, who survived.

Yesterday, family members standing outside the mosque were greeted at about midday with consoling hugs and flowers before heading inside to pay their respects.

Zulfikar Hamid[Cor], a relative of Aown, said he was touched so many people from the extended community turned up to pay tribute to him.

The 50-year-old from Oxford added: “He was lovely, popular, the life and soul of the family and he was a very special lad who always had a smile on his face.

“It brought together a lot of different types of people in this community.

“His enthusiasm for life and energy for life was infectious, it really rubbed off on people and he worked hard.

“He had a zest for life and he wanted to live life to the full.”

One of the teenager's best friends, Ismaah Hussain[Cor], who came to the service with three other pals of Aown, said she remembered him having the power to cheer up all those around him.

The 14-year-old Oxford Spires Academy pupil – who used to attend Cheney School in Headington with Aown before transferring four months ago – added: “Whenever I was upset he used to make me smile and laugh. When we were in classes together he would cheer me up.

“He was a really good friend to everyone. He was a joker and he loved sports as well.

“He was always smiling no matter, that’s why everyone loved him.

“He would make you think of things that can get better in the future and he had huge goals for the future as well, so he told everyone else to have their dreams too.”

Aown was a Year 9 pupil at Cheney School and hundreds of pupils from all years of the school turned up smartly dressed in their uniforms to attend the service.

Deputy headteacher Alastair White said he was proud of the way pupils came to offer their tributes to the football-mad teenager, who was a pleasure to teach according to staff.

Mr White said: “We wanted students from the school to have the opportunity to pay their respects and say their goodbyes – both Muslim, non-Muslim, male and female.

“They have done that with the dignity and compassion he deserves, which is a credit to them.”