A 13-year-old girl drowned while attending a birthday barbecue with her family, just one day before she was due to turn 14. Palwasha Akbar died after getting into difficulty in the River Wharfe at Burnsall, North Yorkshire, on May 31, a coroner confirmed on Thursday, June 18.
Family Celebration Turns Tragic
Her family had chosen the popular riverside spot to celebrate Palwasha's 14th birthday, which was to be on June 1, with a family barbecue during the May heatwave. Assistant North Yorkshire coroner Alison Norton stated: "Palwasha Akbar was at Bolton Abbey – more specifically Burnsall – on May 31, 2026, when she got into some difficulty in the water. She was retrieved from the water and taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, where she was later confirmed deceased."
The provisional cause of death has been established as drowning. The coroner noted that Palwasha was born in Pakistan on June 1, 2012, and resided in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The five-minute-long hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Community Mourns a 'Beautiful Spirit'
Palwasha was one of at least 19 people who lost their lives in open-water incidents during the hot weather at the end of May. Following her death, her family released a statement describing her as "a bright, kind, and caring young girl whose tragic passing has left her family, friends, and community heartbroken."
The statement continued: "Palwasha will be remembered for her kindness, her beautiful spirit, her devotion to her friends and family, and the happiness she brought to those around her. Her life was taken far too soon, but her memory will live on forever in the hearts of everyone who loved her."
Campaign for Water Safety
The Mirror has launched the 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign to stop the "catastrophic" deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year, described as "the equivalent of a classroom of children lost." Campaigners say drowning in the UK has become an "epidemic" and a "national emergency," urging the Government to take urgent action. The UK witnessed a horrifying death toll of 19 children and adults killed in water-related incidents during one week in a record-breaking heatwave from May 24 to May 31.
