A Ukrainian schoolgirl was discovered with “multiple injuries” on a Devonshire beach before passing away in hospital.
Albina Yevko’s body was discovered at Dawlish Bay on Saturday, March 4, and she was rushed to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
An inquest into the death of the “kind and caring” girl was opened yesterday (March 15).
Albina moved away from her native Ukraine last year after Vladimir Putin’s Russia invaded the country, and she was enrolled at Dawlish College.
According to coroner Alison Longhorn, she was residing in Dawlish with her mother Inna.
The day before she passed away, on March 3, she was reported missing, and a search was started in an effort to locate her.
But after being taken to the hospital, she passed away two days later despite the best efforts of both rescuers and medical personnel.
According to police investigations using CCTV footage and information from her phone, nobody else was involved in the events leading up to her death.
Her mother expressed her heartbreak at losing her “beautiful” daughter, and her friends and family are now searching for answers in the wake of the tragedy.
She uttered: “My family and I are heartbroken over the death of our lovely Albina. She will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Detective Inspector Becky Davies said at the hearing: “Our investigation shows that Albina had settled very well in the UK since moving from Ukraine and enjoyed living by the sea and being part of a new family.
“She had made good friends, both Ukrainian and English in the UK, enjoyed school and was very much welcomed by the local community.”
