An 11-year-old girl tragically passed away in the River Thames after requesting permission from her father to put her feet in the water, as disclosed during an inquest.
Kaliyah Coa went missing after venturing into the water at Barge House Causeway in east London on March 31, 2025, leading to an extensive search operation before her body was discovered.
During the inquest at the East London Coroner’s Court, attended by her family members on July 16, the death was officially ruled as accidental by Coroner Graeme Irvine. He determined that Kaliyah’s demise was a result of immersion in the River Thames, stating it as an unfortunate accident.
The court learned that Kaliyah had attended a birthday celebration the day prior to her passing and had requested to stay overnight at a friend’s house. Initially hesitant due to it being her first time at the location, her father, Mr. Coa, eventually agreed to the sleepover after discussing it with the other child’s father.
On the morning following the sleepover, the children prepared breakfast themselves before heading to a nearby park and later to Barge House Causeway by the river. Mr. Coa recounted that Kaliyah informed him of her proximity to the Thames and expressed a preference for the park instead.
Despite his warnings, Kaliyah asked to dip her toes in the water, to which her father cautioned her about the dangers. The court was informed that Kaliyah, along with other children, were playing near the jetty when an incident occurred involving a lost shoe in the river, leading to her unfortunate drowning.
The coroner emphasized that there was no evidence of malicious intent or bullying among the children and praised Kaliyah for her helpful and friendly nature. Following an extensive search effort, Kaliyah’s body was recovered from the Thames on April 13, 2025.
The coroner’s pathologist confirmed that Kaliyah had no prior injuries indicating assault and determined that her cause of death was due to drowning. Mr. Irvine noted that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Kaliyah’s demise.
Addressing concerns from Kaliyah’s family about lack of supervision, Mr. Irvine clarified that there were no legal obligations for bystanders to rescue individuals in England and Wales and highlighted the risks involved in entering the river.
Concluding the inquest, Mr. Irvine expressed his condolences to Kaliyah’s family and friends, acknowledging the profound impact of the tragedy and emphasizing the unforeseen nature of the incident.
