Schoolgirl took her own life during walk with dad at reservoir

A struggling teenage girl reportedly ‘begged’ her father to take her the reservoir where she stepped off a bridge and took her own life.

Qudsiyah Mahmood, 13, had been reportedly struggling with gender dysphoria and her sexuality before she jumped from the Baitings Reservoir bridge.

The day she died, she begged her father, who was in ill health, to take her to the reservoir in West Yorkshire after promising to do well in her upcoming exams.

Today, Bradford Coroner’s Court heard it was a ploy to get her to the spot so she could jump in the water.

She went over a parapet at the beauty spot just after 1pm on May 28, with Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler ruled it was a ‘tragic accident’, before it was later found to be suicide.

The inquest heard Qudsiyah had been exhibiting poor mental health. Her post-mortem revealed she had been self-harming, and messages sent to her friends sent by her on Snapchat prior to her death alluded to the fact Qudsiyah had ‘tragically intended’ to take her own life. 

Qudsiyah was known to teachers and peers as a ‘bright, kind and friendly’ girl.

However, she also admitted to struggling with her sexuality, explaining to her friends over messages how she was questioning her gender and religion – describing herself on occasions as agnostic and genderfluid.

Representing West Yorkshire Police, DI Laura Hall said of the reservoir: ‘It was a place the family regularly visited and was about a 20-minute drive away from the family’s home.

‘Qudsiyah had asked to visit to take photos on the bridge like she had seen on social media, although due to her father’s ill-health, he warned her that they couldn’t stay very long.

‘Upon promising she would ‘do well in her exams’ if her father took her, Mr Mahmood and Qudsiyah drove to the reservoir around lunchtime.’

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After taking photos by the shore, DI Hall explained that Mr Mahmood and Qudsiyah had walked to the bridge. Qudsiyah had asked her father to take a few videos, minutes before she entered the water.

DI Hall said: ‘Mr Mahmood was walking slightly ahead, when he recalls ‘feeling like something was wrong’ and ‘hearing a splash’.

‘Mr Mahmood turned around to see Qudsiyah over the edge of the bridge and struggling in the water.’

After investigating, West Yorkshire Police only found one witness who had seen Qudsiyah enter the water.

DI Hall told the coroner’s court that the witness – a jogger named Mr Cooke – said he saw the girl step off the bridge ‘without hesitation’.

It was initially believed by police that her fall was an accident, and police weren’t able to locate the teenager’s body until the following day, after enlisting sonar location technology to navigate the deep water.

Investigations continued, with Qudsiyah’s friends coming forward with a number of Snapchat screenshots of messages they believed the police should review.

Based on the evidence given, the conclusions drawn from the inquest today were that Qudsiyah’s death was a suicide.

Summarising the inquest, HM Assisted Corner Caroline Chandler said: ‘Sadly, it would seem by the evidence that Qudsiyah entered the water of her own accord, stepping off the bridge.

‘Given the exchange of messages, and that on a balance of probability, both stages of deliberation and intention have been met, my ruling is suicide. I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family.’

Qudsiyah, who was born in Mirpur, Pakistan, went to Crossley Heath in Halifax. In an email to parents, her headteacher described her as a ‘bright, kind and friendly young person who brought happiness to our school’.

Headteacher Dean Jones said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are very much with her family now and always.’

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