Teen sisters who drowned at Coney Island Beach mourned at funeral service
NEW YORK -- Mourners gathered in the Bronx on Tuesday for a funeral service for two sisters who drowned last week at Coney Island Beach.
Hundreds of community members paid tribute to 17-year-old Zainab and 18-year-old Aisha Mohammed at an outdoor service in front of the Ghanian Islamic & Cultural Center, where the girls attended weekend classes.
"I want to thank the whole community for coming out today to show my sisters love," older sister Mariam Mohammed said.
She tried to hold back tears as she spoke.
"My sisters were loving, were caring," she said.
Mohammed Ahmed, the sisters' father, added, "I have lost and we have lost."
Mayor Eric Adams attended the service.
"My heart goes out to the family. There is nothing more painful as parents burying their children," Adams said.
Relatives and friends described the girls as honor students, with bright futures ahead.
"Very happy kids. Whenever they see you, they always say hello," one person said.
How the tragedy happened
Family members said the sisters got caught up in rough waters on Friday night, approximately two hours after lifeguards went off duty.
Police said calls came in around 8 p.m. about the girls and a cousin being in the water. Zainab and Aisha Mohammed were pulled out of the water in critical condition about 90 minutes later and died at the hospital. The cousin was saved.
Ahmed said he is till trying to comprehend how two of his daughters drowned as family members tried to help.
"My daughter, Mariam, who was witnessing everything in front of her ... she tried even to get into the water. She couldn't ... you just imagine," Ahmed said.
Local leaders stressed the need to create more programs to teach young people in the community how to swim.
"Our background ... it's not typical of us to learn how to swim at a young age. Great life skill to have, great tool to have, if the communities, government, local government can help," one youth leader said.
