Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council offers prayers for missing girl in Morocco
Seven-year-old Inaayah was swept by a wave in Casablanca
The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has offered its prayers and ‘deepest sympathy’ to the family of a seven-year-old girl who was swept out to sea whilst on holiday in Morocco.
Cllr Phil Riley said the tragic incident was ‘every parent’s absolute nightmare’.
Members of the Blackburn family were swept into the water alongside Inaayah Makda, seven, who is still missing
The incident happened on Wednesday, January 28, when they were sat on rocks by the coast near Casablanca.
They have appealed for any help in trying to find Inaayah.
Cllr Riley told the authority’s full Council Forum meeting last night (Thursday): “It strikes me that it would be inappropriate to speak today without mentioning that tragic incident that we’re starting to hear about from Morocco – the young girl from Blackburn who has been washed away.
“At the moment I think that’s the best one can say.
“It’s every parent’s absolute nightmare, the idea that you’re on holiday, that you’re playing on the beach, everyone’s having fun and then a wave appears and your seven-year-old child Inaayah disappears in the waves,
“It’s a terrible story and I think the only thing we can say as really as a group is that we’re all praying for them.
“We wish them absolutely the best we can possibly wish for in those circumstances but it’s an awful story and they have our deepest sympathy.”
Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of the 4BwD opposition group said: “I’d just like to echo the sentiments that Cllr Riley has presented with regards to this terrible incident that’s happened in Morocco.
“Our wholehearted sympathy and prayers are with the family.
“It is an absolutely devastating situation for the family indeed.”
Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater said: “I would like to echo the sentiments.
“It’s very sad and if the council can do anything I am sure you will do and you will have our full support in anything that is needed to be done.”