Two sisters drowned when they entered pool after travelling to Snowdonia with university friends, inquest hears
Two sisters drowned when they entered a pool after travelling to Snowdonia with university friends, an inquest has heard.
Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid, 25, were pulled from pools on the Watkin Path, which leads to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon, in North Wales last Wednesday.
Inquests into the deaths of the women who lived in Maltsby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire but were born in Pakistan were opened on Wednesday.
Assistant coroner for north-west Wales 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.'
The University of Chester students were identified by a friend, the inquest heard.
The pools on the Watkin path, Snowdon, have been described on social media as an 'absolute dream tucked away in Snowdonia' and 'perfect for a refreshing wild swim.'
The series of cascades and plunge pools on Afon Cwm Llan are featured on social media as a scenic spot for wild swimming.
Ms Riley 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 hearing, held at the Dafydd Orwig Chamber in Caernarfon, was told both women were pronounced dead shortly before 11pm on June 11.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9.30pm last Wednesday.
Police said one of the women had already been pulled from the water, while the second woman remained in the pools.
The force said emergency crews pulled the second woman from the water but both women were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The multi-agency response to the incident also involved Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, the Wales Air Ambulance and the Coastguard.
Vice-chancellor of the University of Chester, Professor Eunice Simmons said: 'The University of Chester community is in mourning for the tragic loss of Haleema Zahid and Hajra Zahid and our heartfelt sympathies are with their families and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
'Haleema and Hajra had joined Chester Business School earlier this year on the Master's in International Business course.
'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.'
Chairman of Llanberis mountain rescue team, Jurgen Dissmann, said after the double tragedy: '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 and we would like to thank our emergency service colleagues and Aberglaslyn mountain rescue team for their continued support and assistance during this callout.'
A former colleague of Haleema Zahid at a telecommunications company in Islamabad, Pakistan, said in a tribute that she was 'an exceptionally compassionate, hardworking and kind individual,' the BBC reported.
Dr Bilal Saeed added she had 'touched the lives of many with her warmth, professionalism and unwavering dedication'.
Ms Zahid had left the firm to pursue higher education in the UK, he added.
Sheharyar Shahnawaz, another ex-colleague, said Haleema Zahid was an 'amazing lady, very lively and energetic, someone you would want in your life'.
He said that she became the pillar of her family after the death of her father last year and he had seen her just before she left for the UK when she told him she was 'really excited for this new chapter.'
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