A 20-year-old student died after entering a lake in Eryri (Snowdonia) following a trek up Wales' tallest mountain. Mahammed Naim Islam, from White Horse Road, Stepney, east London, was found in Llyn Glaslyn on Yr Wyddfa on September 27.
Inquest hears of tragic swim
An inquest held today in Caernarfon was told that Mr Islam and a friend, Muhammad Saihnur Rahman, had walked to the summit of Yr Wyddfa on September 26. During their descent, they decided to swim at Llyn Glaslyn. Mr Islam went into the water and encountered difficulties after seemingly slipping in a section where the lake suddenly deepens.
Emergency services were alerted, and Mr Islam's body was retrieved by search divers the following day. He was pronounced dead by Dr Ben Heath at 12.39pm on September 27.
Witness describes rescue attempt
At the inquest, a statement was read from Lee-junior Pellick, who was descending Miner's Path with companions. They had observed two young men jumping in and out of Llyn Glaslyn for approximately 20 minutes as they made their way down. He stated that they could see one of the men beginning to struggle. He initially assumed he was messing about, but a friend who had been watching him said he 'did not think he was joking'.
Pellick said: "We realised this was serious and we ran towards the water." He removed his clothes and went into the lake, wading out a short distance before the lake dropped away abruptly after a ledge. He said the water went from knee height to "deep", and the incident gave him a fright, forcing him to adjust his own position to avoid getting into difficulty. He then watched the man "disappear" beneath the surface.
He said: "I realised I could not help, I could tell the water was dangerous and I am not a strong swimmer." Bystanders attempted to assist but were unable to reach him. They subsequently comforted the man's friend, who was in a state of shock at the water's edge.
Search and recovery
A large-scale search was launched by mountain rescue teams and the Coastguard rescue helicopter. The man was not located that evening, and the search was suspended until morning. It resumed the following day with a dive team and dog search unit brought in to assist.
Using sonar equipment, the diving team identified a shape consistent with a body approximately 12 metres from the shore at a depth of around five metres. A police diver entered the water and recovered the body to the surface before it was taken off the mountain.
Cause of death and family tribute
The inquest heard that Llyn Glaslyn was a "very deep" glacial lake, shallow near the beach but dropping steeply "very quickly". The water temperature was no more than 10C. His family said Naim — as he was known to those close to him — was not a swimmer and certainly not accustomed to cold water swimming.
A post mortem examination was conducted by Dr Mark Atkinson, who gave the cause of death as drowning. Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for North-West Wales, recorded the medical cause of death as drowning, concluding that Mr Islam had unintentionally gone out of his depth and was unable to swim. She reached a conclusion that he had died accidentally and expressed her condolences to his family.
Following his death, his family paid tribute, saying: "Mahammed was a bright and remarkable young man with a promising future ahead of him. He was a devoted son, a loving brother, and a cherished friend whose kindness and character touched the lives of all who knew him."
They added: "His untimely passing has left his family, friends, and wider community heartbroken. He will be remembered for the joy he brought to others, the memories he created, and the positive impact he had on those fortunate enough to cross his path. Mahammed will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and sincere condolences remain with his family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time."
The family thanked all involved in the search and recovery of Mahammed.
