Sisters drowned after paddle at Watkin Pools in Eryri National Park

Two sisters tragically drowned at a scenic spot in a national park after going for a paddle while fully clothed, an inquest has revealed. Hajra Zahid, aged 29, and her sister Haleema Zahid, aged 25, were found in the Watkin Pools area within Eryri National Park, located in the Nant Gwynant region of Gwynedd, last June. The sisters, who were unable to swim, slipped or fell into the water and could not escape, according to the testimony given by mountain rescuers during the inquest held at Caernarfon Coroner’s Court.

Hajra’s husband, Haessham Minhas, paid tribute to her at the hearing, describing her as a mother of two who “inspired everyone around her.” Both sisters were originally from Pakistan but were residing in Rotherham at the time of the incident. They had traveled to the park along with three male friends, all students at the University of Chester, to visit the cascades on the Watkin Path—a well-known route ascending Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales.

The group had hiked for around 40 minutes to reach the pools, where they decided to separate. According to North Wales Police investigator Gutun Lake, this was done out of respect for the sisters’ privacy and religious beliefs. The sisters, who were both pursuing master’s degrees, moved further up the pools but failed to respond to repeated calls from their friends when it was time to leave. Hajra was found floating face down in the water, and although her friends managed to pull her out, Haleema remained missing until rescue teams arrived.

Local assistance helped to perform CPR on Hajra until emergency services reached the scene, and members of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team eventually retrieved Haleema from the water. Unfortunately, both were pronounced dead at the scene. Assistant coroner Sarah Riley noted that the sisters had not intended to swim or enter deep water; their plan had been only to paddle. She ruled out suspicious circumstances and any third-party involvement. Offering her condolences to family and friends, Riley described the case as “extremely tragic” and warned others of the inherent dangers posed by such natural pools. Family and friends remembered the sisters fondly, with Minhas emphasizing Hajra’s determination and belief in education, while a family friend recalled Haleema as “a loving daughter, sister and aunt” forever held in their prayers

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