Tragic Death of 13-Year-Old Sparks Conversations on Mental Health

A tragic incident unfolded on May 28, 2025, when Qudsiyah Mahmood, a 13-year-old girl, took her own life during a walk with her father at Baitings Reservoir in West Yorkshire. The inquest revealed that Qudsiyah had been struggling with her sexuality and gender identity prior to her death. She requested the outing with her father, who was in poor health, under the pretext of taking photographs at a family favorite location.

During the hearing at Bradford Coroner’s Court on October 16, Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler ruled Qudsiyah’s death as suicide, overturning initial assumptions of an accident. Qudsiyah entered the water around 13:20 local time, shortly after arriving at the reservoir with her father.

Qudsiyah had a history of poor mental health, which was highlighted during the inquest. A post-mortem examination indicated she had been self-harming, and messages sent to friends via Snapchat suggested she had been contemplating suicide. Colleagues and friends described her as a “bright, kind and friendly” individual, but also noted her struggles with identity, including questioning her gender and religious beliefs.

Detective Inspector Laura Hall from West Yorkshire Police recounted the events leading up to the tragedy. She noted that Qudsiyah had expressed a desire to visit the reservoir to take pictures for social media. After assuring her father she would excel in her exams if they went, they arrived around lunchtime.

Witness accounts indicated that moments before Qudsiyah entered the water, her father felt something was wrong. He turned just in time to see her struggling. A jogger, who was the only witness to the incident, reported seeing Qudsiyah jump into the reservoir “without hesitation.”

Emergency services responded promptly, but the recovery of Qudsiyah’s body took until the following day, with sonar technology used to locate her in the deep waters. She was pronounced dead at 17:10 on May 29.

Investigators later discovered Qudsiyah’s Snapchat messages, which hinted at her low mood and confusion regarding her identity. The police found her friends had screenshots of these messages, indicating her struggles, which her family was unaware of at the time.

In summarizing the inquest, Coroner Chandler expressed her condolences to the family and confirmed that the evidence pointed to Qudsiyah’s intent to end her life.

Qudsiyah was born in Mirpur, Pakistan, and attended Crossley Heath School in Halifax. In an email to parents, headteacher Dean Jones described her as a student who brought joy to the school community and extended thoughts and prayers to her family during this difficult time.

This heartbreaking case highlights the urgent need for open discussions surrounding mental health, especially among young people navigating complex issues of identity.