A crowdfunding campaign to support the independent search for a seven-year-old British girl who was swept out to sea while on holiday in Morocco has surpassed £50,000 in donations.
Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, Lancashire, went missing on Wednesday, January 28, during what was meant to be a joyful family holiday. She was swept away by a sudden and aggressive tide while she and her parents were sitting on a rocky stretch of a beach near Casablanca.
The tragic incident occurred on the very first night of the family’s week-long trip. According to accounts from relatives and loved ones, the family had arrived at the beach when the tide appeared to be far out. However, the situation changed dramatically and unexpectedly within minutes.
Without warning, the tide rushed in with immense force, catching many beachgoers by surprise. Within roughly twenty minutes, the rising water had swept multiple people off the rocks. While other individuals caught in the surge were eventually able to reach safety, young Inaayah was separated from her parents and carried away by the powerful waves.
Accounts of the Incident and Family Despair
Recalling the terrifying moments, Inaayah’s father, Zubair Makda, described how the environment shifted in an instant. In a voice note shared publicly by Naseem Khan, a presenter for Blackburn-based UCTV, Zubair explained the sudden nature of the hazard.
"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 audio message.
He continued, reflecting on the heartbreaking moments of separation: "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. I just pray she’s not gone and she’s not left us. I’ve always said that she’s a special girl."
Zubair and his wife, Tasneem, were also swept into the water alongside their daughter during the incident. Although they managed to climb to safety after being knocked in opposite directions by the crashing waves, they tragically lost sight of Inaayah as the churning water separated them. Relatives noted that the area lacked adequate safety warnings or signs alerting tourists to the extreme hazards of the shifting tides.
Mobilising Independent Search Efforts
In the wake of the tragedy, Inaayah’s parents chose to remain in Casablanca to oversee and coordinate rescue efforts. Expressing deep frustration and criticism over what they perceived as an initial lack of prompt and robust assistance from local authorities, the family took matters into their own hands.
To accelerate the search, the family engaged a private search operator equipped with a helicopter to scan the coastline and surrounding waters. Recognising the immense financial burden of private aerial support, boat hire, and international coordination, loved ones established an online fundraising campaign.
The GoFundMe appeal, titled ‘Search for Inaya’, was launched to alleviate the crushing expenses facing the grieving family. The initiative has since captured public sympathy, raising over £50,000 toward its initial £90,000 target.
The fundraising page details the heavy financial realities of conducting an international, private search. The description states that contributions are urgently needed to cover ongoing operational costs, including private boat hire, aerial support, and essential family expenses. These additional costs include translator services, emergency travel, and coordination efforts with local authorities—expenses that were initially borne entirely by the family out of their own pockets.
Community and Official Response
Back in her hometown of Blackburn, the news has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Inaayah is a pupil at Roe Lee Park Primary School and regularly attends the Masjid-e-Saliheen madrasah, where she is well-known and deeply cherished by teachers, peers, and community members.
Local leaders have stepped forward to offer solidarity and press for official intervention. Adnan Hussain, the Member of Parliament for Blackburn, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating that he was "heartbroken" by the news and had been in direct contact with the family to offer whatever support he could provide.
"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," Mr Hussain stated.
Official channels from the British government have confirmed active involvement in the case. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement confirming that consular assistance is being provided.
"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 search enters its critical phases, family, friends, and supporters continue to rally behind Zubair and Tasneem Makda, determined to exhaust every available resource in the ongoing search for Inaayah.