Inquest rules teen’s death was accidental

bruar falls: Teenager jumped in water in attempt to rescue his friends

A teenager drowned at a beauty spot while trying to rescue his friends from the rapid currents around a waterfall.

Ali Ahmed, 19, was pulled beneath the water while swimming at Lower Bruar Falls, near Blair Atholl, on July 13.

Poplar Coroner’s Court heard Ali, a part-time fast food worker from East Ham in east London, had been trying to help a struggling friend before strong currents pulled him into a cave area near the waterfall.

Friends then tried desperately to save him before he disappeared into a deep pool inside the cave and drowned.

His friend, Zein Shivli Khalifa, 19, told the inquest they were with a group of eight others on their first friends’ holiday when the tragedy happened.

Zein said people were jumping into the water when they arrived at the popular swimming spot in the early afternoon.

He said: “A guy said it’s not that deep but be careful of the current.

“He said stay away from the cave because there was an area three metres deep.”

The inquest heard Ali’s body was returned to London and identified by his sister, Regea Begum, on July 18.

Coroner Mary Hassell said: “In spite of very strenuous efforts of his friends to save him, which were very nearly successful, he succumbed to the cold and fatigue of swimming against the current and he was drowned as a consequence.

“I have no hesitation in saying that was an accident.”

She said Ali’s death was an accident. The coroner told Zein: “I think you were terribly brave going after your friend like that, and very nearly successful.”

Zein said: “He was a very curious person generally in life, always asking questions when he was not sure about something, he would ask this and that - why is this like that, why do people do this?”

Speaking after the inquest, Zein added: “He was the kind of person always looking for knowledge.

“Any debates we would have, he would be the first to make a point.

“He hated to be wrong and he was really talkative when it came to subjects he was knowledgeable on.

“He was a family man, he was the man of his house, he would buy the groceries, care for his mum and go with her to appointments.

“To us, he was a good friend.”

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Rescuers at the scene of the incident at the Falls of Bruar earlier this year.