Two sisters drowned while paddling fully clothed in a viral wild swimming spot 'often promoted on social media' in Snowdonia, an inquest heard.
Mother-of-two Hajra Zahid, 29, and younger sister Haleema Zahid, 25, drowned by accident on June 11, 2025 after mistakenly entering the deep parts of the mountain pool, assistant coroner Sarah Riley said at Caernarfon today.
The pair had travelled 70 miles with a group of friends to visit Watkin Pools at Nant Gwynant, Snowdon, which is widely promoted by travel influencers on social media.
The Pakistani-born women had moved to the UK four months before to begin masters degrees in International Business at the University of Chester and had been living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
When they made it to the swimming spot, they decided to paddle in the pools in the warm evening sun with the three other men who had come with them, though the men went into a separate pool for privacy and religious reasons.
As their male friends got out of their pool to go home, they found Hajra floating in the water face down. Police who had attended the scene said: 'She was floating on top of the water and her distinctive red dress was visible'
Her sister Haleema's body was found ten minutes later.
There had been no phone signal but the alarm was eventually raised to the police and mountain rescue teams.
Watkin Pools (pictured) has become extremely popular because 'It's often promoted on social media,' mountain rescuer Elfyn Jones told the inquest
Elfyn Jones, of Llanberis mountain rescue team, said the area had become exceptionally popular because 'It's often promoted on social media,' he told the coroner.
Tributes were paid by a former colleague from a telecommunications company based in Islamabad, Pakistan, who said Haleema was 'an exceptionally compassionate, hardworking and kind individual'.
A post-mortem carried out by pathologist Dr Muhammad Zain Mehdi confirmed the cause of their deaths as drowning.
Ms Riley probed how the tragedy came to happen.
There was evidence suggesting they could not swim and had only meant to paddle on the edges but they may have slipped further in than intended, she said.
Ms Riley said: 'It's more likely than not that Haleema and Hajra didn't intend to swim. I find they intended to paddle in the water, their shoes being at the side of the pool. They were fully-clothed.'
Ms Riley said that their deaths were accidental: 'I am satisfied neither female intended to actually swim or enter the deep parts of the water.'
She added: 'I extend my sincere condolences to their friends and family. This is an extremely tragic case and my thoughts remain with them. I also take the opportunity to remind the public wild swimming in pools can be dangerous.'
'I would urge caution to any member of the public intending to do so in the future.'
Another former colleague Sheharyar Shahnawaz said Haleema was an 'amazing lady, very lively and energetic, someone you would want in your life'.
He added that Haleema had become a pillar of her family by stepping up after the death of her father. Mr Shahnawaz added he had seen her just before she left to Britain when she told him she was 'really excited for this new chapter.'
The University of Chester said the women 'touched the lives of many' since starting master's degrees in international business.