Rap star Drake has paid tribute to Wallington schoolboy Jamal Ottun after the hashtag #DrakenoticeJamal went viral across a number of social media platforms.

The Canadian rapper paid his respects to Jamal, who drowned during in Shawnigan Lake, in Vancouver Island during a school trip last Sunday.

The talented athlete and musician, from Sydenham, was only 17.

In the week after his death Jamal's friends started the hashtag #DrakenoticeJamal to get the attention of one of the Wallington Grammar School student's favourite musicians.

Drake, going by the name 'champagnepapi' posted an image of Jamal on his Istagram account.

The imaged was captioned: "Heard this young man was a big fan.

"Rest In Peace Jamal. Watch over me from way up above"

Your Local Guardian:

The post has received 184,000 likes and 5,780 comments as of this afternoon.

After Drake paid tribute to Jamal people reacted to his post on Twitter.

 

Your Local Guardian:

Your Local Guardian:

Friend Chris Rajan said he was delighted that the campaign had worked and that it was a great way to remember Jamal.

He said: "It's a really exciting for all of us involved to do this for him.

"In a way it immortalises Jamal's legacy."