A tragic loss has shaken both Zimbabwean and UK communities after 19-year-old Christine Chido Benjamin, a Zimbabwean-born aspiring lawyer, was found dead in Manchester’s River Irwell on Thursday, 17 July 2025.
Christine was a bright and ambitious young woman who had earned four scholarships and was studying law with dreams of becoming a barrister. Her body was discovered by specialist divers following an overnight search near the Lowry Hotel, where she had last been seen. The search was launched after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received reports shortly after midnight that someone had entered the river near the Salford and Manchester border.
Emergency teams, including marine and underwater search units, rushed to the scene. A police cordon was quickly put in place as divers and rescue boats searched the waters around Blackfriars Road.
Christine’s mother, heartbroken and devastated, shared the painful events leading up to her daughter’s d€ath. She explained that Christine had just returned from a trip to Portugal and seemed mentally unsettled. “She wasn’t herself. She looked confused and lost,” her mother said.
Christine was taken to the hospital, where she confided privately to nurses that her friends in Portugal had given her cannabis. Despite being treated and later discharged, her mental state reportedly declined further. According to her mother, Christine started speaking strangely, often in the third person, saying things like, “I saw my daughter has fled.” She also began wandering aimlessly between shops and restaurants.
The family grew increasingly worried and tried to get help from the police. “At first, they refused to search for her,” her mother said. “Then later, they called me and said they needed to talk. That’s when they told me my daughter had been found dead.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of d€ath, and investigations are ongoing. The family is now waiting for answers, hoping the results will shed light on what really happened to Christine.
Her passing has left many in shock, especially those who admired her drive and dedication to education. She is remembered not only for her academic excellence but also for her courage, determination, and the bright future that was ahead of her. online
