An inquest has heard that a schoolgirl who died after entering the River Thames likely passed away “swiftly” due to the “effect of cold water”, reports Breaking News.
Kaliyah Coa, aged 11, was reported missing on March 31st after she had been playing near Barge House Causeway in Woolwich during a school inset day.
Her disappearance prompted a major search effort, and the Metropolitan Police later confirmed on April 13th that a body had been discovered, reports Breaking News.
On Wednesday, police confirmed that the body found at Maritime Quay on the Isle of Dogs had been identified as Kaliyah.
Her family released a statement expressing their heartbreak, saying their lives will “never be the same” after her passing, reports Breaking News.
“We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even if it was for such a short time. She will be missed so much. Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family,” they added, reports Breaking News.
An inquest into Kaliyah’s death was opened on Friday at East London Coroner’s Court.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine told the court that she may have entered the river while trying to retrieve a missing shoe.
“It would appear that she entered the water in an attempt to recover a lost shoe, but that is something which will be covered later at an inquest,” Mr Irvine said, reports Breaking News.
He informed the hearing that the initial cause of death had been recorded as immersion, while further tests are still pending.
Early post-mortem findings presented by Professor Alan Bates indicated that drowning was not the cause of death, reports Breaking News.
Mr Irvine said of the preliminary results: “The effect of being in cold water would have caused unconsciousness and death relatively swiftly.
“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the parents. I cannot imagine the grief they must be going through,” reports Breaking News.
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