An 11-year-old girl drowned in the River Thames in east London after going into the water to retrieve a friend's shoe, an inquest has heard. Kaliyah Coa was with friends at Barge House Causeway on an inset day on March 31, 2025, when she entered the water.
Witness Account
Nathan Guy, who lives near the jetty, said he saw five children playing near the jetty when he heard one say 'you made me throw it'. He saw Kaliyah using a scooter to get to the shoe, but one of the other children said it was too expensive. Concerned for their welfare, he told police: 'I saw the girl by the river. I called 999 and went back to the door and saw the girls struggling in the water. I turned away then I saw her head under the water.'
Emergency Response and Recovery
Emergency crews, including the Coastguard, were called, but Kaliyah's body was not recovered until two weeks later on April 13. Shortly after she went missing, her aunt Jade-Leanne Coa started a fundraiser that has since raised more than £10,000. She wrote: 'Kaliyah was the light of our lives — full of warmth, laughter, and so much love. The pain of her absence is indescribable, but the love she inspired in others, including so many of you, is something we will always hold close.'
Medical Findings
Pathologist Professor Alan Bates said Kaliyah was an otherwise healthy child, concluding her cause of death was immersion after water was found in her airways and lungs. Her parents, grandmother, uncle, and aunts attended an inquest where coroner Graeme Irvine recorded an accidental death finding that she had died from immersion in the River Thames.
Events Leading to the Tragedy
The court heard she had been to a birthday party the day before then asked her dad if she could stay for a sleepover. He was initially against the sleepover, but after speaking to her friend's dad, he agreed. The following morning, the children made themselves breakfast before going to a nearby park and then to the causeway. She contacted her dad and asked if she could 'dip her toes' in the water. He said in his statement that he first thought it was a joke but then 'reminded her that where she was was not a beach'. Kaliyah replied: 'Pops, I know about the currents.' He later added: 'I was now angry that no adult from the house didn't tell me they were outside.'
Coroner's Remarks
In his summary, coroner Mr Irvine said that there was no evidence of 'dark intent' or anything suspicious. He said: 'These were children who were friends. It is a testament of Kaliyah as a confident and helpful and kind child that she tried to help her friend.' He added that entering the Thames would have been dangerous due to the currents and conditions. Mr Irvine said the other children should not be criticised for not entering the water to rescue Kaliyah, as there is 'no Good Samaritan law' in England and Wales. He said: 'This is a case that has haunted me from the moment I received it in April 2025. I see this as a tragic accident. The circumstances of Kaliyah's death were completely unexpected. The shock that the family must have felt must have seriously impacted their grief. I want to offer my sincere condolences to all of Kaliyah's family and friends. Please accept my condolences.'
