The body of 11-year-old Black girl Kaliyah Coa has been recovered from the River Thames, more than two weeks after she vanished beneath the water near the Barge House Causeway in North Woolwich on Monday, March 31.
Kaliyah, a Black British schoolgirl, had the day off due to a school inset and was attending a birthday party when she reportedly fell into the river shortly before 1:23 p.m.
In a statement steeped in sorrow, Kaliyah’s family shared the immense pain of their loss. “Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same. We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even if it was for such a short time. She will be missed so much. Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family,” they said.
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They extended gratitude to all who assisted in the search and recovery effort and asked the public to honor their space and privacy: “We sincerely hope that everyone will respect our wishes to be given the space and time to grieve as a family.”
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Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, called the incident a devastating accident. “This tragic accident took away a little girl who was loved by many. Our specialist officers will continue to support Kaliyah’s family as they process this heartbreaking news,” he said.
He urged the public to avoid harmful speculation: “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.”
Ware also thanked the search teams and first responders: “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.”
Police were alerted to the presence of a body in the Thames near Maritime Quay on the Isle of Dogs at 9:03 a.m. on Sunday, April 13. Formal identification confirmed on Tuesday, April 29, concluded that the remains were Kaliyah’s.
An inquest into her death, according to a report, is scheduled to open on Friday, May 2.
