BLACKBURN, Lancashire — An urgent independent search operation is underway off the coast of Morocco after a seven-year-old British girl from Blackburn was swept out to sea by a sudden and violent tide.
Inaayah Makda was on the first night of a family holiday when tragedy struck on Wednesday, January 28. While her family was sitting on a rocky stretch of beach near Casablanca, a rapidly advancing tide caught them completely off guard.
The incident has sparked immense concern both locally in Lancashire and internationally, with a crowdfunding campaign launched to support the family’s independent search efforts rapidly surpassing £50,000 in donations. As the family remains in Morocco demanding more robust official intervention, local officials, community leaders, and diplomatic channels in the United Kingdom are stepping up efforts to provide assistance.
A Sudden and Terrifying Ordeal
According to accounts provided by the family and relatives, Inaayah’s parents, Zubair and Tasneem Makda, had arrived in Morocco for a week-long family holiday, looking forward to spending quality time together. On the evening of Wednesday, January 28, the family visited a beach near Casablanca.
A relative of the family, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted that the tide appeared to be far out when they first arrived, creating a false sense of security. They settled on a series of rocky outcrops spread apart by about half a metre. However, without warning or visible hazard signs for tourists, the tide rushed in with terrifying speed.
Within minutes, powerful waves battered the shoreline. Zubair and Tasneem Makda, along with several others on the beach, were suddenly swept into the turbulent water. According to the relative, a massive wave knocked Inaayah in one direction while her parents were pulled another way, effectively cutting the family off from one another.
In the chaos that followed, multiple people were swept into the sea, but swift rescue efforts managed to bring everyone else to safety. Tragically, little Inaayah was separated from the group and lost to the surging waves.
Her parents, despite being pulled into the dangerous waters themselves, managed to climb back to safety. Heartbreakingly, by the time they regained their footing, they had already lost sight of their daughter.
Heartbroken Plea From the Father
In the wake of the tragedy, Inaayah’s father, Zubair Makda, shared a voice note with Naseem Khan, a presenter for the Blackburn-based broadcaster UCTV. In the audio message, Zubair expressed his profound anguish, clinging to hope while voicing severe frustration over the initial response from local Moroccan authorities.
"We were just on the rocks… that were sort of spread apart. It’s sort of like half a metre-high type of rocks and that’s when the tide just suddenly just swept everyone out," Zubair said in the emotional voice note.
"Inaayah was on a rock behind me. I pray she’s okay and she’s on a rock or something and she’s just waiting for somebody to rescue her."
Struggling with the unimaginable reality of the situation, the grieving father added, "I just pray she’s not gone and she’s not left us. I’ve always said that she’s a special girl."
Family members and local supporters voiced significant distress over what they perceived as a sluggish response from the Moroccan authorities during the critical early hours following the incident. While some search activity began by Wednesday afternoon, the perceived lack of immediate, large-scale official action prompted the family to take matters into their own hands.
Mobilizing Private Search Efforts and Community Support
Refusing to give up hope, Zubair and Tasneem Makda have remained in Casablanca to oversee and coordinate rescue efforts. Recognizing the limitations of the official response, the family made the critical decision to hire a private search operator, including aerial support via helicopter, to comb the coastline where Inaayah went missing.
To help shoulder the immense financial burden of these private operations, a GoFundMe campaign titled "Search for Inaya" was swiftly established. The community response has been overwhelming, with donations pouring in from across the United Kingdom and beyond. The fundraiser has already raised over £50,000, moving closer to its £90,000 target.
The fundraiser organizers detailed the immense costs involved in sustaining an independent search, writing: "As many of you may have seen, our beautiful seven-year-old niece Inaya has gone missing after being swept out to sea on the first day of her family holiday in Morocco. This is an unimaginably distressing time for her parents and loved ones."
The appeal emphasizes that funds are urgently required to cover ongoing search expenses, such as private boat hire, aerial support, translator services, emergency travel, and essential coordination with local authorities.
"At present, many of these costs are being met privately by the family, and we are coming together to do everything possible to support them during this critical time," the statement added.
Local and National Reaction
Back in Lancashire, the news has cast a heavy shadow over the local community. Inaayah is well-known as a bright and cheerful pupil who attends Roe Lee Park Primary School. Alongside her mainstream education, she is a dedicated student at the Masjid-e-Saliheen madrasah, where friends, teachers, and community members have gathered to offer daily prayers for her safe return.
Elected officials have also stepped forward to offer their backing to the distraught family. Adnan Hussain, the Member of Parliament for Blackburn, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed he has been in direct contact with the Makda family.
"I am heartbroken by this news," MP Adnan Hussain stated. "I am urgently raising this matter with the UK authorities, including the Foreign Office, to ensure every possible step is being taken to support the search efforts and to provide the family with all the assistance they require at this deeply distressing time."
Diplomatic channels have formally acknowledged the crisis. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) released a statement confirming that government officials are actively involved.
"We are supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with local authorities," the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
As the independent search operations continue along the Moroccan coastline, friends, family members, and well-wishers across the globe continue to share the appeal, keeping the family in their thoughts during an agonizing wait for news.
Further updates regarding the search can be found through the official "Search for Inaya" GoFundMe page.