
Sisters, 25 & 29, who drowned in Snowdonia pools after travelling to beauty spot with pals pictured
TWO SISTERS who drowned near the Watkin Path in Snowdon have been pictured for the first time.
An inquest has been opened into the sisters' deaths, after they were pulled from the waters on June 11.
4
4
Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid, 25, had travelled to the popular tourist site with friends.
According to North Wales Police, though, officers were called to Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd, at 21.31pm.
They had received reports that one woman had been pulled from the water and that there was another in one of the pools.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Gibson of North Wales Police said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of both women.
"An investigation to establish what happened is now under way."
An inquest into Haleema and Hajra's deaths has been opened, so that authorities can determine what happened on their trip to Wales.
The coroner, Sarah Riley, said: "Hajra and Haleema had travelled to the Nant Gwynant area with friends from university.
"They have entered the water and sadly both died as a result of drowning."
She added: "Investigations continue in terms of how they came by their death and the inquest is therefore adjourned to allow for completion of those investigations.
"I offer my sincere condolences to their family, friends and all who knew and loved them."
The University of Chester's vice-chancellor, Professor Eunice Simmons, released a short statement about the pair's deaths.
The statement read: "The University of Chester community is in mourning for the tragic loss.
"They touched the lives of many here at Chester – their friends, the cohort on their course and the staff who taught them – and they will be deeply missed."
Dr Bilal Saeed, one of Haleema's former colleagues, said that she "touched the lives of many with her warmth, professionalism and unwavering dedication".
The stunning UK hiking trail lined with 'beautiful' natural pools that people can't believe aren't man made
He had worked with Haleema at a telecommunications company based in Islamabad and said that she was excited to start her new life in the UK.
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
4
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
A second child with autism drowned in a Cincinnati pond in under a year. Now parents want answers
Parents are looking for answers after a second child with autism drowned in a Cincinnati pond in less than a year. Six-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef drowned in a pond at his family's West Chester apartment complex in November. Months later, seven-year-old Mar'Dasia Forte drowned in a pond at her family's West Chester apartment complex on June 13. The moms of both autistic children and the local advocacy group EmPath For Autism want their local lawmakers to do something about the drownings. Governor Mike DeWine told The Enquirer the state government 'should look' at requiring fences around retention ponds. But Mar'Dasia's mom, Mika Forte, told the publication, 'I need more than looking.' 'We can't keep losing children like this,' she said. The Enquirer reported, citing the National Autism Association, that a record number of at least 77 children with autism drowned last year. So far, at least 32 have drowned this year, according to the organization. Mar'Dasia was a 'very happy, active, rambunctious little lady,' her mom said. She had wandered away from home in the past, so Forte installed special locks on the door and got her daughter a bed she couldn't climb out of, but the little girl still managed to get out of the apartment. "This should've stopped after the first [death],' Forte said, adding, "We have to do better." Jonisa Cook, Joshua's mother, told The Enquirer she 'cried and cried' after hearing about Mar'Dasia's drowning. Cook said Joshua was 'lovable and his smile was everything,' in a previous interview with The Enquirer. Joshua had also wandered away from his home and drowned. He was found one day after he was reported missing, with hundreds of community members volunteering to search for him. After Mar'Dasia's death, Cook said she's feeling more determined than ever to advocate for fences around retention ponds as well as an alert system for missing children with autism.


BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Eryri police find bodies of men missing years apart in same spot
It was a mystery that left detectives baffled after a 33-year-old doctor vanished without a trace while walking in Eryri National in August 2012 Shayne Colaco, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, had been hiking in the Carneddau range in north Wales when he did not return to his car. He was not seen the time, the experienced hiker's disappearance sparked an extensive operation by air and on foot, with the search described by experts as a "needle in a haystack" in the Ogwen was not until 12 years later that a vital clue led to the discovery of Mr Colaco's body in May 2024, only metres away from fellow hiker David Brookfield who had disappeared months before the discovery and died while walking in the same area. Mr Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, had been walking alone on 9 January 2024 when he went Wales Police said Mr Brookfield had sent a text to his wife from the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no further contact was ever received. The experienced walker had intended to complete an "amazing" 15km (nine mile) route in good weather, police said, but with forecasts that it would deteriorate throughout the is believed he entered the broad mouth of a gully during his descent from his final summit at Pen yr Ole Wen when he fell and became seriously "extensive searches in challenging winter weather conditions", Mr Brookfield could not be found."The weather worsened, snow continued to fall... after the first couple of weeks we realised there wasn't any more we could do from the ground," said Sgt Paul Terry, of North Wales Police. Four months after his disappearance, coastguard helicopter crews discovered Mr Brookfield's body after seeing a glimpse of blue while carrying out a routine training exercise through the Ogwen was during his recovery that volunteers also located a single item of clothing that led them to find the remains of Mr Colaco. Sgt Terry, who assisted the rescue of the two bodies, said the circumstances were "exceptional" as many of the volunteers working on the rescue were involved in the initial search for Mr Colaco 12 years of the winchmen who located Mr Brookfield from the helicopter was also part of RAF squadron looking for Mr Colaco."It shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men."Sgt Terry said it was while investigating Mr Brookfield's death that a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about 5m (16ft) further down the gully. "The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key," he said. "Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier."Sgt Terry said he was "amazed" to find the jacket was very similar to the one Mr Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing. Further investigations then confirmed the key in the pocket was the key to his car, a Fiat Seicento."Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time." A mountain rescue drone operator then helped find Mr Colaco's body. It is now believed his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen took the same fatal turn as Mr Brookfield's. Sharing the tragic story, Sgt Terry voiced his condolences to the men's families and friends, as well as warning of the dangers of walking in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia. He said both men ended up in very dangerous ground, "which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder"."It's important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather – and how quickly it can change," he said. "We want you to come and enjoy these beautiful mountains in Eryri, it is amazing, but come and be safe and enjoy it."And so, I have a very simple safety message - be prepared."


Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Shattered' family of two sisters who drowned in Snowdonia mountain pool call for clarity over 'conflicting' accounts of their deaths
A family 'shattered' by the deaths of two sisters who drowned at a mountain pool have called for clarity over the 'conflicting' accounts of their deaths. Mother-of-two Hajra Zahid, 29, and younger sister Haleema Zahid, 25, were pulled from the water after a 'challenging' rescue attempt on a notorious path up Snowdon. The pair had travelled 70 miles to the mountain range to visit the waterfall pools with university friends before the tragedy struck, an inquest opening heard. The sisters had only moved to the UK four months ago to begin masters degrees in International Business at the University of Chester and had been living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Their family have been left heartbroken amid claims they have received 'conflicting' accounts over how the women came to their deaths, reports from Pakistan said. The account given that one sister died trying to save the other does not add up with where the bodies of the two women were found - roughly 10 minutes apart - the family claimed. 'The family is shattered,' a relative told Geo News. 'The police says one sister drowned and the other drowned while trying to save her but the body of one sister was found floating on the surface and the other sister's body was found ten minutes away. 'The witnesses say both entered the water together. The police have not informed us of anything and are not helping the family.' The women's bodies have been repatriated back to Pakistan. Coroner Sarah Riley said the women had travelled to the pools at Snowdon's notorious Watkin Path with university friends. The hearing in Caernarfon was told pathologist Dr Zain Mehdi carried out post mortem examinations and has the provisional cause of death for both sisters as drowning. Ms Riley said: 'They have entered the water and sadly both died as a result of drowning.' She said Hajra was declared dead at 10.48pm and Haleema was declared dead at 10.49pm. 'Investigations continue into how they came by their deaths.' She added: 'I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends and all who knew and loved them.' The sisters were originally from Rawalpindi in Pakistan but moved to the UK as students at the University of Chester's business school where they were taking on masters degrees in international business. Dr Bilal Saeed previously worked with Haleema at a telecommunications company in Islamabad, and said she was 'an exceptionally compassionate, hardworking and kind individual'. He said that she had 'touched the lives of many with her warmth, professionalism and unwavering dedication' before leaving her home country to pursue a masters degree in the UK. Another friend described her as an 'amazing lady, very lively and energetic, someone you would want in your life'. University vice chancellor Prof Eunice Simmons said: 'The University of Chester community is in mourning for the tragic loss. 'They touched the lives of many here at Chester - their friends, the cohort on their course and the staff who taught them - and they will be deeply missed.' Chair of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, Jurgen Dissmann said: 'On behalf of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the two women who sadly lost their lives. 'This was a complex and difficult callout for the team.' Social media has been blamed for a surge of inexperienced walkers to Snowdonia after four out of five recent deaths in the recent fatalities were women. The pools where the Hajra and Haleema died had been rated one of the best places in Britain to inspire 'Insta envy' and awash with selfie-takers from miles away. Rescue teams have previously said a rise in call outs to the mountains known as 'Britain's most dangerous peaks' was down to 'trending social media posts' on Instagram and TikTok. And the latest tragedy means at least five young people have died in the Snowdonia mountain range this year. Social media influencer Maria Eftimova, 28, travelled from Greater Manchester to climb Tryfan but fell 65ft when she lost her grip on February 22. Dr Charlotte Crook, 30, of Birmingham slipped to her death on Glyder Fach on February 16. Medical student John Aravinth, 20 of Horsham, West Sussex, fell on Snowdon after getting lost on May 26. The Yr Wyddfa range has upwards of 750,000 visitors a year. It averages eight deaths annually - but five already this year. A BBC Countryfile guide said: 'While many choose to take the mountain railway most of the way, plenty choose to make the fairly substantial hike - many of whom may not be regular hikers and may not be armed with the right kit or sufficient food.' It was used by Sir Edmund Hillary and his team as a training ground for their successful Everest climb in 1953. Snowdon attracts more than 600,000 walkers, climbers and tourists each year with a series of walking trails and a train line leading to the 3,560ft summit. The eight-mile long Watkin Path, where the tragedy happened, is described as 'one of the steepest and more challenging routes up Snowdon'. It takes an estimated four to seven hours to complete - with a dip in the water a must-do for many walkers. However the route is said to pass along 'a series of crystal-blue waterfalls before it quickly ramps up in difficulty after passing Gladstone Rock. The pools have been described as 'quite possibly the most beautiful wild swimming spot in the whole National Park.' Detective Chief Inspector Andy Gibson of North Wales Police said: 'Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of both women.