Community Mourns Teen Sisters in Coney Island Drowning Tragedy

Two teenage sisters who lost their lives in a tragic drowning incident at Coney Island Beach were remembered at a heartfelt funeral service in the Bronx on Tuesday, July 9th. 

The service saw a large turnout, with hundreds of local community members gathering to honor 17-year-old Zainab and 18-year-old Aisha Mohammed in front of the Ghanaian Islamic & Cultural Center, where they were students.

The girls’ older sister, Mariam Mohammed, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. “My sisters were loving, were caring,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. 

Their father, Mohammed Ahmed, echoed the sentiment of loss, stating, “I have lost and we have lost.”

Mayor Eric Adams attended the service, offering condolences to the grieving family. 

“There is nothing more painful [than] parents burying their children,” Adams remarked.

Later, at his weekly briefing with reporters, Mayor Adams addressed the drowning incident and discussed measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

He reported that 800 lifeguards have been hired for the current season, with plans to increase this number.

The mayor emphasized the critical nature of water safety education.

“Educate parents and loved ones on when it’s the time to be in the water,” Adams urged, stressing the importance of public awareness in preventing such tragedies.

Assemblymember Landon Dais, who was also present at the gathering, also expressed his deep sorrow.

Dais said, “My heart breaks for a community that has fully embraced me as a new Assemblymember. As a father of 2, I cannot imagine what the family is going through.”

He continued,  “I am calling upon the Governor, Mayor, and my colleagues in Government to fully fund swimming programs and lifeguard programs in underserved communities. It is time to take bold and executive leadership on this issue.”

The sisters, described as honor students with promising futures, were caught in rough waters on Friday evening, about two hours after lifeguards had ended their shift. 

Police reported that around 8 p.m., emergency calls were received about the girls and a cousin in the water. Zainab and Aisha Mohammed were rescued from the water in critical condition approximately 90 minutes later but unfortunately succumbed to their conditions at the hospital. Their cousin was rescued.

In the wake of the tragedy, community leaders have called for increased swimming education among local youth.