A 13-year-old girl who drowned after jumping into a reservoir during a walk with her father has been identified as Qudsiyah Mahmood. New details from an inquest have shed light on what led up to her death.
According to BBC News and WalesOnline, Qudsiyah leapt into Baitings Reservoir near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, on May 28.
During proceedings at Bradford Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that Qudsiyah had asked her father to take her for a walk so she could take photographs, as reported by ITV. Her father, described by police as being in poor health, was walking slightly ahead when his daughter jumped into the water. Her death was later ruled a suicide.
Detective Inspector Laura Hall of West Yorkshire Police told the inquest that Qudsiyah had sent Snapchat messages to friends expressing that she was “in a low mood and confused about her sexuality.” She also appeared to be questioning her religion and indicated she was “intending to take her own life,” according to BBC News.
Police said Qudsiyah’s family had not been aware of her struggles. However, they told investigators that “whatever the problem, they would have been supportive,” ITV reported.
Authorities stated that the reservoir was roughly 20 minutes from her home, and her father agreed to the outing on the condition that she would “do well in her exams,” per WalesOnline.
A witness told police he saw Qudsiyah walk over the edge of a bridge “without hesitation,” the outlets reported. Her body was recovered the following day with the help of sonar equipment.
Born in Mirpur, Pakistan, Qudsiyah attended Crossley Heath School in Halifax, ITV reported. Head teacher Dean Jones described her as “a bright, kind and friendly young person who brought happiness to our school.”
“As a school family, we stand side by side with Qudsiyah’s family and our community to offer the best support we can,” Jones wrote in a message to parents.
