Egyptian failed asylum seeker drowned attempting to jump onto ship travelling to Canada at British port, inquest told

Daily Mail​

a day ago

A failed asylum seeker from Egypt drowned after he attempted to jump onto the ramp of a ship at Southampton docks in a bid to travel to Canada, an inquest has heard.
Walid Gomaa, who was denied asylum status when he arrived in the UK in 2021, had told a friend he intended to travel across the Atlantic after living illegally in the UK for four years.
The 36-year-old Egyptian national was spotted by members of the crew of the 200-metre MV Tannhauser attempting to board the vehicle-transporter ship which was due to sail to Halifax, Canada.
Mr Gomaa was said to be trying to reach the ramp's finger-flaps - articulated extensions at the end of the vessel - as it was being raised ahead of sailing, the Winchester inquest was told.
The operator paused the raising and saw Mr Gomaa walk away, but as they started lifting up the ramp again, the asylum seeker ran and jumped towards the ramp despite a crew member shouting at him to stop.
Mr Gomaa then hit his head and fell into the sea at Empress Dock at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, where he drowned before a rescue boat could reach him on April 28 this year, the inquest heard.
Coroner Jason Pegg said: 'Mr Gomaa attempted a second time, warnings were shouted to Mr Gomaa but he continued despite the warnings.
'Mr Gomaa jumped off the jetty towards the vessel. On this occasion Mr Gomaa was not able to grab hold of anything and fell towards the water between the jetty and the vessel itself.'
The inquest heard a post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning, which resulted from a head injury and a fall into the water.
Mr Pegg said a friend contacted police after Mr Gomaa had not been in contact and said Mr Gomaa had told him he planned to travel to Canada.
The coroner said that when the friend asked how he was going to get there, Mr Gomaa replied: 'Do not worry about it.'
The coroner added: 'Mr Gomaa came to the UK in 2021 and was not given status in this country and disappeared for a period of time.
'He initially claimed asylum, but that was denied in 2021 and it was not until April 2025 that Mr Gomaa raised his head again.'
In a message to Mr Gomaa's family in Egypt who did not attend the hearing, Mr Pegg said: 'I do give my condolences to Walid Gomaa's family and friends and they have my best wishes.'