Qudsiyah Mahmood died after entering the water at Baitings Reservoir in West Yorkshire
14:36, 16 Oct 2025Updated 14:57, 16 Oct 2025
Qudsiyah Mahmood, 13, tragically drowned in Baitings Dam(Image: MEN MEDIA)
A tormented teenager who was struggling with her sexuality and gender deliberately took her own life during a summer walk with her dad, an inquest heard.
Qudsiyah Mahmood, 13, had begged her dad, who was in ill-health, to take her to Baitings Reservoir, near Ripponden, a place that their family would visit regularly, with the promise she would do well in her upcoming exams at school.
But Bradford Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday (October 16) that it was a ploy to get her to the spot so she could jump in the water, Leeds Live reports.
The Halifax teen tragically died after entering the water at around 1:20pm on Wednesday, May 28. Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler ruled what was originally thought to be a “tragic accident” was found to be suicide.
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The inquest heard Qudsiyah had been exhibiting poor mental health prior to her death. 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 retold the tragic events leading up to her death. DI Laura Hall said: “Prior to the events of May 28, Qudsiyah had been asking her father, Mr Mahmood, to visit Baitings 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.”
Emergency services at Baitings Reservoir following the incident (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
After taking photos by the shore, DI Hall explained that Mr Mahmood and Qudsiyah had walked to the bridge. Qudsiyah had asked for 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 a bridge “without hesitation”.
DI Hall told the court: “Mr Cooke had been on a run around Baitings Reservoir. He was half-way past the dam when he said he saw a girl on the edge of the railing step into the water without hesitation. He then heard a man shouting for help and Mr Cooke recalled telling officers that he thought Qudsiyah had “jumped in the reservoir.”
Following the tragedy, West Yorkshire Police visited Qudsiyah’s family on May 28, where it was believed that Qudsiyah’s fall was likely an accident. Police were not able to locate the teenager’s body until the following day, after enlisting sonar location technology to navigate the deep water.
At 5:17pm, Qudsiyah was recovered and pronounced dead. Investigations continued, with Qudsiyah’s friends coming forward with a number of Snapchat screenshots of messages they believed the police should review.
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Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org
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DI Hall told the court: “Screenshots of messages sent on Snapchat insinuated that Qudsiyah was experiencing low mood and was confused about sexuality. She was questioning whether she was gender fluid and agnostic, and also whether she was intending to take her own life. The family was not aware of this but told the police that, whatever the problem, they would have been supportive.”
Based on the evidence given, the conclusions drawn from the inquest today were that Qudsiyah’s death was therefore, a suicide.
Summarising the inquest, HM Assisted Corner Caroline Chandler said: “My way of summing up today I have conducted an inquest into the tragic death of Qudsiyah Mahmood, born on October 21, aged 13 at the time of her death.
“On the afternoon of May 28, 2025, Qudsiyah and her father visited Baitings Reservoir in Ripdon. The family visited the reservoir regularly and Qudsiyah had asked her father to go and take some photos on the bridge.
“That morning she had awoken her father, asking to go. They went to the bridge, walked across it and took some photos. Following this Qudsiyah is described as being behind her father. Something alerts him to turn round, and when he turns around, she is gone.
“There is a call from her father to 999 made at 1.13pm. A jogger, Mr. Cooke, describes seeing Qudsiyah step up onto the railing and fall over into the water. There was apparently no hesitation. He is the only witness who saw her enter the water.
“Multiple emergency services attended the scene and her body was recovered at 5.10pm on the May 29. A post-mortem report found the cause of death to be by drowning. West Yorkshire Police undertook an investigation.
“Qudsiyah’s death was initially thought to be accidental, and her family and friends were interviewed. Social media messages were obtained by West Yorkshire Police, and there are a number of screenshots of messages between Qudsiyah and her friends, which tragically indicate her intention to end her own life.
“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.”