Tragic Drowning of Two Sisters at Eryri National Park
Two sisters drowned at a national park beauty spot after going for a paddle fully clothed, an inquest has heard.
Hajra Zahid, 29, and her sister Haleema Zahid, 25, were pulled from the water at the Watkin Pools at Eryri National Park, in the Nant Gwynant area of Gwynedd, in June last year.
Speaking at an inquest at Caernarfon Coroner's Court, mountain rescuers said it appeared the two women, who could not swim, fell or slipped and were unable to get out of the water.
Hajra's husband Haessham Minhas described the mother-of-two as a woman who "inspired everyone around her" in a tribute at the hearing.
Background and Circumstances of the Incident
The inquest heard the two women, who were originally from Pakistan but lived in Rotherham, travelled to the national park with three male friends who were students with them at the University of Chester.
The group had travelled on the Watkin Path, which is one of the main routes to the summit of Wales' highest mountain Yr Wyddfa, for 40 minutes to the cascading pools, where they decided to split up.
North Wales Police investigator Gutun Lake told the inquest the sisters' friends said this was to respect the privacy of the women and for religious reasons.
The two sisters, who were studying for masters degrees, headed further up the pools.
But Lake said when it came time to leave, the pair did not respond to repeated calls from their friends.
"They came across Hajra floating face down," he said.
They managed to pull her from the pool, but were unable to locate her sister.
A local resident came to help and performed CPR until emergency services arrived.
Members of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team entered the pool to retrieve Haleema, but both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination confirmed they had both drowned.
Inquest Findings and Official Statements
Assistant coroner for North West Wales, Sarah Riley, said it was her view that neither woman had gone for a swim, or had intended to enter deeper water at the pools.
Instead they had intended to have a paddle, and were still dressed when they both somehow ended up in the pool, she said.
She told the inquest it was impossible to establish the exact sequence of events, but ruled out any suspicious circumstances or the involvement of a third party.
Recording a conclusion of accident, Riley offered the sisters' family and friends her condolences.
"It is an extremely tragic case," she said, also urging caution to the public about the dangers of entering such pools.
Tributes and Personal Reflections
In tributes read out during the hearing, Minhas added:
"She [Hajra] was a determined and ambitious woman who believed in the power of education."
Family friend Raja Azem said Haleema was "always in our prayers".
"She was a loving daughter, sister and aunt."
