A teenager whose best friend died after drowning in a canal in Wigan has gone viral on TikTok after she received a very special gift from 'beyond the grave'.
Taylor McCormack, from Essex, received the 'most thoughtful gift' anyone had ever given her last Christmas - a Build-a-Bear with a voice recording.
The recording was a message from Rodney Zinoro, her best friend who was tragically pulled out of the Bridgewater Canal in May 2020.
In a video, which has since been watched by millions of people on TikTok, Taylor is seen pressing the teddy bear's hand before Rodney's voice is heard and she becomes overwhelmed by emotion.
"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 said.
Thousands of viewers have sent messages of love and condolences for Taylor's loss.
Taylor and Rodney 'literally clicked' when they first met each other as year seven students at Cecil Jones Academy in Southend-on-Sea, EssexLive reports.
The pair had been best friends ever since, and stayed in close contact even when Rodney moved to Manchester in Year 10 and joined Bedford High School.
Taylor said: "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."
Tragically, Rodney was found dead in May 2020 when his body was recovered from Bridgewater Canal.
Taylor was with her mum when she received a text from Rodney's ex-girlfriend about his death.
"I was crying when she said that and then my mum had to come in my room," she added.
"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."
Rodney's body was repatriated to Zimbabwe, where he was originally from, so his funeral could take place in September 2020.
His brother filmed the 'beautiful' funeral and sent it to Taylor so she could watch.
As his death 'affected everyone', a memorial was also created at the canal where he was found as well as in Southend - Taylor and other school friends of his released balloons by the seaside.
It was a 'normal' Christmas Day for Taylor until her younger sister Maddie handed her the present.
The teddy is a cream bear with brown eyes and a top of a Gemini, her star sign, in silver and gold glitter.
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.'"
Maddie thought of the idea and saved a video of Rodney's voice that Taylor posted on TikTok before Dean and her took it to Bulid-a-Bear so the audio could be recorded and placed inside the teddy.
The teddy, named 'Rodney', is now on a bedside table in Taylor's room that has a crystal placement on it with flowers and a vase.
Taylor said that the toy helped her mental health and to move forward as she is still affected by Rodney's death to this day.
"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."
She is also 'overwhelmed' by the reaction on TikTok with thousands of viewers commenting their love and support for her.
"When you look at videos and it's got millions of views, like that could never be me, I could never have that many views."
However, the teddy is not complete closure. Nobody knows exactly what happened to Rodney, and she is still struggling to come to terms with his death.
She said: “I just don't think it's something that I'll ever get over and I always just think it's not real.
"But I just have to keep thinking to myself, he wouldn't want me just sitting there all day, every day and not move, not get up, not go to work or college. He would want me to be okay."
She is optimistic that she will heal over time, adding: "If anyone who has been through something like this, they will heal with time. With the love people are showing, my family, my friends, the love we all give to each other because we all miss him.
"It's just a nice feeling, so I think I will heal - not now, I think it will just take a bit of time."
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."
