Hamtramck teen drowns in Detroit River

By Charles Sercombe

Hamtramck is mourning.

Nadaa Thabeet, 16 years old, died last Sunday.

The teenager and her 11-year-old sister apparently, according to her family, were swept away by a wave while on the east side of the Belle Island shoreline. Nadaa and her father were able to rescue the younger girl, but Nadaa apparently was carried out further into the river by strong currents.

She was last seen floating, with only her feet visible. Detroit police recovered her body near Belle Isle on Wednesday.

The family lives in Hamtramck and is part of the Yemeni community. Nadaa was a student at Frontier Academy in Hamtramck.

Initial media reports said the two sisters decided to take a swim. The Yemeni family’s translation of what happened might have been misunderstood.

Her body was found on Wednesday after an exhaustive search by Detroit police and the Coast Guard. A funeral is scheduled for today, Friday, May 28, at the Dix Mosque in Dearborn, at noon.

One Response to Hamtramck teen drowns in Detroit River

  1. Tom Dunigan

    August 22, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    This is so sad and it’s happening weekly on the River. People need to be educated that the Detroit River is very swift especially on both sides of the shore line of Belle Isle. Please only swim on the beach in the designated swim areas. It looks so inviting to swim along the shore but currents are strong and unpredictable where they are. As a long life boater I feel the current push my boat. For even a great swimmer going against the current it’s exhausting.
    Have fun but please stay safe.

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