Mother of newlywed teen who died during heatwave passes away two weeks later after COVID-19 battle
The mum of a newlywed teenager who drowned during the summer heatwave has died less than three weeks later after contracting COVID-19.
Muhammad Bilal Zeb, 18, from Bradford, died while swimming in a river in North Yorkshire on 31 July, when temperatures shot above 30C on the hottest day of the year so far.
At the time of his death his mum Saima Bashir was in ICU with coronavirus and did not know about his passing.
A community Facebook page that confirmed Zeb as the drowning victim has now posted about Bashir's death.
A post published on Monday reads: "Bilal's mother has sadly passed away."
Zeb was swimming in River Wharfe near Linton Falls in Grassington when he was dragged underwater.
Emergency services were called to the beauty spot at around 7.30pm.
Members of the public tried to save his life and a local police community support officer attempted to resuscitate him using CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene when an ambulance arrived.
The Janaza Announcement Facebook page named Zeb as the victim in a post published on 5 August.
A post from the account read: "Muhammad Bilal Zeb has sadly passed away by drowning at Linton Falls in the Yorkshire Dales. Bilal got married five weeks ago.
“Can you all pray for his mother who is in ICU Manchester due to COVID19 past 3 weeks.
“She doesn’t even know about her own son’s death.”
People have expressed their condolences to the family on social media following the double tragedy.
One person wrote: “That’s so sad mother and son passing away within weeks. May Allah grant them jannah.”
Another well-wisher added: “May you both be reunited in the next life.”
One comment said: “I was always thinking how this lady would be if she ever got better to find out about her son.
“I would not wish it upon any parents, mothers.”
