The 11-year-old girl whose body was recovered from the River Thames last month did not die by drowning, an inquest has revealed.
Kaliyah Coa’s body discovered after two-week search
Kaliyah Coa was reported missing on March 31 and found dead two weeks later on the morning of April 13 at Maritime Quay in East London. She had been off school the day she vanished and was last seen near the Barge House Causeway. It’s believed she entered the river to retrieve a lost shoe, according to investigators.
Exposure to cold water confirmed as likely cause of death
During a hearing at East London Coroner’s Court on May 2, Coroner Graeme Irvine confirmed that early postmortem results pointed to “immersion” as the provisional cause of death. He explained that the effects of cold water would likely have caused Kaliyah to lose consciousness quickly, leading to her death. He stated: “The effect of being in cold water would have caused unconsciousness and death relatively swiftly.”
The court heard that while she had entered the water, she had not drowned. The findings triggered a mandatory formal inquest, as her death was classified as unnatural.
Family heartbroken after loss
Kaliyah’s family said she had gone to a birthday party and never came home. In a statement, they said: “Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same. We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even if it was for such a short time. She will be missed so much.” They expressed gratitude to all those who took part in the search and have asked for privacy as they continue to grieve.
Police urge public to avoid speculation
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware called the incident a “tragic accident” and reiterated the family’s plea for privacy. “Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heartbreaking news,” he said. He also warned against inaccurate speculation online.
Ware thanked the search and recovery teams and acknowledged the local community’s support throughout the investigation.
Further forensic tests are still pending, and the inquest will resume at a later date.
