An 11-year-old girl who drowned in the River Thames was attempting to help a friend retrieve a lost shoe, an inquest heard. Kaliyah Coa disappeared after entering strong currents near Barge House Causeway in East London on March 31, 2025.

Kaliyah had attended a birthday party the previous day and stayed overnight with a group of children. According to the inquest at East London coroner’s court, one of the children lost a shoe in the river, prompting Kaliyah to try to recover it. The coroner, Mr. Irvine, described her as a “confident, helpful and kind child” and said it was a testament to her character that she attempted to assist her friend.

Kaliyah’s family raised concerns about not being informed that the children had left the property. In response, Mr. Irvine noted that at her age, a degree of independence is typically allowed, and he concluded the incident was a tragic accident.

The child’s body was recovered from the Thames on April 13, 2025. The coroner officially recorded the cause of death as accidental water immersion.