Kaliyah Coa, 11 years old, was found dead in the cold water of the River Thames in London on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at approximately 9 am, local time, after the Metropolitan Police were notified. Coa was reported missing on March 31 after playing near the Barge House Causeway in North Woolwich on a non-school day.
Coroner Graeme Irvine commented, “She had entered the water to recover a lost shoe.” An inquest into Coa’s death was opened shortly after her death at the East London Coroner’s court, where coroner Mr. Irvine explained that he was required to have a hearing because her cause of death was “unnatural.”
What Happened
Residents discovered that a girl had gone into the River Thames after her friends were heard shouting and screaming. Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives on Barge House Road, told the PA news agency, “I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge. I said, “What happened?”
They said, “One of my friends was playing in the water, and one of my friends has gone into the water, and she’s gone underneath, and we can’t find her.” The other girl returned home, while the boy there showed Ms. Rajaendram where the incident occurred.
Emergency crews arrived immediately and began a widespread search for Coa. A woman said Coa’s shoes, socks, and coat were found near the scene. The woman also mentioned that she might have been paddling or walking barefoot in shallow water. Chief Superintendent Dan Card stated, “Authorities remained committed to finding Kaliyah and working with partners to search for Kaliyah Coa throughout the area, utilizing drone technology and boats.
Additionally, Dan Card stated, “They would be supporting Kaliyah Coa’s family through this deeply upsetting time, and our thoughts go out to all of those impacted by what has happened”. According to the initial findings of the coroner’s inquest, Kaliyah Coa did not drown.
Final Thoughts
It appeared that Kaliyah Coa had died shortly after going into the river, due to the frigid temperature of the water, according to the London coroner. “The effect of being in cold water would have caused unconsciousness and death relatively swiftly,” according to the BBC.
In a heart-wrenching statement, the family said, “Our hearts are broken, and our lives will never be the same. We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even for such a short time. She will be missed so much. Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family.”
Other statements from the family include “We would like to thank all of those who were involved in the search and recovery of Kaliyah,” and “We sincerely hope everyone will respect our wishes to be given space and time to grieve as a family.”
“This tragic accident took away a little girl who was loved by many”, Detective Superintendent Scott Ware echoed in a statement to Sky News. “Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah Coa’s family as they process this heartbreaking news”.
“I echo her family’s request for privacy while they navigate the difficult road ahead,” Ware continued. “And urge the public to refrain from wholly inaccurate speculation on and offline.”
