A schoolgirl who died after jumping into the Thames is likely to have died 'quickly' due to 'exposure to cold water', an inquest has heard.
Kalia Koa, 11, went missing while playing near Barge House Causeway in Woolwich on a school day on March 31.
An extensive search was launched and on 13 April the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the body had been found.
Police said Wednesday that the body found in the Maritime Key area of the Isle of Dogs was Kalia.
Her family said in a statement that “their hearts are broken” and their lives “will never be the same” after her death.
“We were so happy to have Kalia, even if it was for such a short time. We will miss her very much. Kalia went away for her birthday and never returned home to her family,” they added.
An inquest into Kalia's death opened at East London Coroner's Court on Friday.
Senior coroner Graham Irvine told the hearing that the reason she may have gone into the water was to try to find a lost shoe.
“It appears she entered the water trying to find a lost shoe, but that will be looked into later in the investigation,” Mr Irwin said.
He told the court that the preliminary cause of death was immersion in water, and the results of further investigations were not yet known.
A preliminary post-mortem examination by Professor Alan Bates found that Kalia did not die from drowning, the inquest was told.
Mr Irwin commented on the preliminary findings: “Exposure to cold water could have resulted in unconsciousness and rapid death.
“I would like to express my sincere condolences to the parents. I cannot imagine the grief they are experiencing right now.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
