Ukrainian girl, 14, dies after being found unconscious on Devon beach

Devon and Cornwall Police said the girl was found on Dawlish Beach on Saturday after a search by police and coastguard

The unnamed girl was found unconcious on Dawlish Beach (Getty Images)

A teenage girl from Ukraine has died after being found unconscious on a beach in south Devon.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the girl was found on Saturday at Dawlish Beach, following a search involving the police helicopter and coastguard.

Detective Inspector Becky Davies said: “We were called on the evening of Saturday 4 March with reports of a 14-year-old girl missing from the Dawlish area.

“Localised searches took place with support from the police helicopter and coastguard and an unconscious person was found on Dawlish Beach.

“She was subsequently airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where she later sadly died. Formal identification has taken place and next of kin have been informed.”

DI Davies added that the girl was a Ukrainian national who had been living in the Dawlish area. Contact has been made with the Ukrainian Embassy and the Home Office is aware of this incident.

“This death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries continue as to the circumstances surrounding this death. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenage girl at this tragic time,” she said.

As of 20 February 2023, councils have helped 163,500 Ukrainians settle in the UK through the Home for Ukraine scheme, which allows UK citizens to sponsor named Ukrainian individuals fleeing Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of the country. Police have not said whether the girl was in the UK as part of this scheme.

Dawlish beach runs in front of a train track that and is a short walk from Dawlish’s town centre.

Anyone with any information or who may have CCTV / doorbell footage that can assist officers with the investigation is asked to contact 101@dc.police.uk quoting case reference 50230052081.