A coroner's report has disclosed that the 11-year-old girl who was found dead in the River Thames last month did not drown.
An inquest into the death of Kaliyah Coa was opened by the East London Coroner’s Court on May 2, with Coroner Graeme Irvine explaining the initial findings during a hearing, the BBC reported.
The little girl's deceased body was found at Maritime Quay on the morning of April 13, two weeks after she was reported missing on March 31.
According to authorities, she was off school that day and had been seen entering the water near the Barge House Causeway.
It’s believed the young girl went into the river to retrieve a lost shoe, and died shortly after due to the cold temperature of the water. “The effect of being in cold water would have caused unconsciousness and death relatively swiftly,” Irvine told the court.
Initial postmortem results supported this, indicating that Kaliyah did not die from drowning. Irvine said the provisional cause of death is “immersion,” adding that further tests are still required.
Because her death was classified as “unnatural,” a formal hearing was legally required.
A witness reported seeing two children at the scene trying to get help around the time Coa entered the water.
In a statement to the BBC, her family said the 11-year-old had gone to a birthday party and never returned home.
“Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same,” they said, cited by PEOPLE. “We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even if it was for such a short time. She will be missed so much.”
The family thanked everyone who participated in the search for Kaliyah and asked for privacy as they grieve.
“This tragic accident took away a little girl who was loved by many,” Detective Superintendent Scott Ware said, echoing the family’s sentiments.
“Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heartbreaking news,” he continued. “I echo her family’s request for privacy while they navigate the difficult road ahead, and urge the public to refrain from wholly inaccurate speculation both on and offline.
“I would like to extend my thanks to our search and recovery teams, supported by blue light partners. I know the local community has been deeply impacted by this incident and also thank them for their support," Ware concluded.
Our thoughts are with Coa's loved ones at this time.