Muslim girl, 15, choked to death when her headscarf got caught in go kart as she raced with friends, inquest hears
- Ruwaida Adan was strangled by her hijab during go-karting race with her friends
- Should’ve been told to remove headscarf but Capital Karts in Barking missed it
- The ‘kind and caring’ schoolgirl did not wear a hijab all the time, her parents said
A 15-year-old muslim girl was killed in a horror accident and choked to death after her headscarf became caught in a go-kart, an inquest heard.
Ruwaida Adan was strangled by her hijab minutes into a go-karting race with her friends in East London.
Ruwaida should have been told to remove the headscarf, jurors were told, but checks at Capital Karts in Barking, East London, missed it.
The schoolgirl did not wear a hijab all the time, her parents said, and the race course had a policy to remove all loose clothing.
The end of her scarf was said to be hanging out of her helmet and suit and two parts in her cart designed to stop loose items becoming entangled were also damaged, a probe found.
Ruwaida Adan, 15, was strangled by her hijab minutes into a go-karting race with her friends in East London
Emergency services were called to the scene – which occurred on August 6 2021 – to take the teenager to hospital, but Ruwaida died four days later.
She suffered a hypoxic brain injury and asphyxiation.
The jury at Walthamstow Coroners’ Court said: ‘No safety check ensured that Ruwaida removed her headscarf before getting into her go car.
‘No daily mechanics check was carried out on August 6, 2021. In Ruwaida’s cart the plastic drive belt guard to the rear axle was absent and the rear seat shield was damaged.
‘Both should cover exposed moving parts. Ruwaida’s scarf became entangled in the moving parts resulting in her asphyxiation and her death on August 10, 2021.’
Following the inquest, Ruwaida’s family said: ‘Ruwaida was sweet and compassionate to everyone she met.
‘She was so kind, thoughtful, caring, loving, strong and wise beyond her years.
‘She was always speaking up for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves. She was always laughing and smiling – she had the most contagious laugh.
‘Losing Ruwaida has been the hardest thing we have ever been through and losing her so unexpectedly makes it even worse.
‘Not only has a big part of our family gone, but her death has caused us all so much pain that we are all changed forever.
‘We miss Ruwaida every second of every day.’
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