British Girl, 7, Swept Away by a Huge Wave on the First Day of Family Vacation in Morocco

She was watching the sunset with her parents when a towering wave crashed in — now seven-year-old Inaayah Makda is missing at sea.

A family's dream holiday has turned into a living nightmare after a seven-year-old British girl was swept away by a powerful wave at a Moroccan beach. Relatives now say they have been left desperate, distraught, and largely alone in the frantic search for answers.

Inaayah Makda | Source: Facebook/Manchester Evening News

Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, vanished last Wednesday, 28 January, after tragedy struck as she sat with her parents watching the sun dip below the horizon on a beach in Casablanca.

In a horrifying instant, a large wave surged forward, dragging the little girl into the sea as her parents were also knocked from their feet. Her mother and father, Zubair and Tasneem Makda, were pulled into the water but managed to fight their way back — only to realize their daughter was gone.

Inaayah's father later told Blackburn-based non-profit channel UCTV that the tide had suddenly "swept everyone out," hurling members of the family in different directions and separating them from their young daughter in the chaos.

People at a beach in Casablanca on 20 June 2019 in Casablanca, Morocco. | Source: Getty Images

As the hours stretched into days, anguish deepened. Relatives say the family has received little to no meaningful assistance from local authorities in Morocco, a claim that has fueled heartbreak and anger in equal measure.

One family member described the response as nothing short of "inhumane."

"We are all really worried. You can understand this is really distressing for everyone," the relative said. "We have reached out for help, but the support has not been forthcoming. The support we have got from the local authorities in Morocco can only be described as inhumane."

Inaayah Makda | Source: X/ITV Granada Reports

The same relative said the family had been given no warning of any danger before the incident.

"They were not told of any warnings. There were no warning signs of any dangers at the beach, so when the large wave came across, they were all caught by surprise," they said.

Even more devastating, the family claims they were later told there was little that could be done.

"The support since has been zero, they actually got told it was too rough to go out to sea, and they should wait for the body to wash up on sea. It is shocking to hear this," the family member added.

Inaayah Makda | Source: X/The British Scene

Inaayah's parents remain in Casablanca, refusing to give up hope, and are said to have hired a private search operator, including a helicopter, to continue looking for their daughter as official efforts stalled.

The British Foreign Office has since confirmed that consular staff are involved. A spokesperson said officials "are supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco" and "are in contact with the local authorities."

Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain also said he had spoken directly with Inaayah's father on Friday, 30 January, adding that his office was doing everything possible to help the family and raise the matter with the relevant authorities.

Back home, the shock has rippled through Inaayah's community. Gillian Wilton, head teacher at Roe Lee Park Primary School in Blackburn, where Inaayah is a pupil, spoke of the school's heartbreak.

She said the news that Inaayah Makda was missing in Morocco had left the community extremely upset, adding that her immediate and heartfelt thoughts were with the young girl, her parents, and her family during what she described as a devastating time.

"We will continue to pray for Inaayah's safe return and know that all our school community will have her in their thoughts and prayers," she added, saying the school would also offer ongoing support to pupils and parents.

Inaayah's martial arts club, Masters of Martial Arts Blackburn, also released a heartfelt statement online.

The club said it was sharing its love and support for their young student and her family during what it described as an unimaginably distressing time.

It added that the news had left everyone deeply saddened, and that Inaayah, her parents, and her wider family were being kept firmly in their thoughts and prayers.

As the search continues, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover the soaring costs of private boats, aerial searches, and essential expenses for the family as they remain overseas. At the time of writing, £61,175 of a £90,000 target has been raised.

For now, a family waits — suspended between hope and heartbreak — praying for news of a little girl who vanished with the tide.