Two sisters drowned while at a , an inquest has been told. Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid, 25, at Watkin Pools in Eryri, Wales - a spot made famous by social media influencers.

The series of waterfalls and natural pools are on Afon Cwm Llan and have become a wildly popular spot for swimming after becoming popularised through social media videos.

An was told that the two women were students at the University of Chester who had travelled with friends from the university to Nant Gwynant on June 11.

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Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for north west Wales, opened the hearing into the deaths of the two women from Maltsby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Wednesday, June 18.

The pools where they died sit on the Watkin Path, one of six main routes up to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, or Mt Snowdon. The pools are just a short hike up the path from the A498 on National Trust land in Eryri.

Consultant pathologist Dr Zain Mehdi conducted post-mortem examinations, Ms Riley said, adding that he had given the provisional cause of death as drowning, .

"They have entered the water and sadly both died as a result of drowning," said Ms Riley.

Hajra was declared dead at 10.48pm and Haleema was declared dead at 10.49pm.

A friend Zeb Luqman helped a officer formally identify the two women and investigations are continuing into how the two women drowned.

Ms Riley said: "Investigations continue into how they came by their deaths.

"I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends and all who knew and loved them."

Both women were born in Rawalpindi in Pakistan. They lived in Tickhill Road in Maltby, Rotherham and had gone to the Watkin Pools in Nant Gwynant on June 11.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9.30pm last Wednesday. Police said one of the women had already been pulled from the water, while the second woman remained in the pools.

Police said investigations were continuing. The force is appealing for anyone who was walking in the Watkin Path area between 6pm and 9pm to contact officers.

Jurgen Dissmann, chair of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, said: “On behalf of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the two women who sadly lost their lives.

“This was a complex and difficult callout for the team and we would like to thank our emergency service colleagues and Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team for their continued support and assistance during this callout."

The University of Chester Vice-chancellor Prof Eunice Simmons said: “The University of Chester community is in mourning for the tragic loss." The sisters had been studying international business, she added.

“They touched the lives of many here at Chester - their friends, the cohort on their course and the staff who taught them - and they will be deeply missed.”

The inquest, held at the Dafydd Orwig Chamber in Caernarfon, was adjourned to conclude at a later date.