Teenager died in sea wall slip, inquest hears

Albina and Inna Yevko settled in Dawlish in May 2022, having fled the war with Russia

A Ukrainian teenager died after slipping off a Devon sea wall while walking in the dark, an inquest has heard.

Albina Yevko, 14, was found on a sandy beach between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.

The teenager went for a walk at dusk on 4 March 2023, but her mother became concerned when she did not return her phone calls, the hearing in Exeter was told.

Her body was found face down on the beach by the seawall, and she was pronounced dead in hospital the next morning, it heard.

Albina was found on the beach between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren

Miss Yevko came to the UK with her mother Inna in May 2022, fleeing the war with Russia.

At the inquest, statements were read out from Inna Yevko, the first responders to the scene, and doctors who treated Albina.

Dr Deborah Cook, the pathologist who examined Albina’s body, said in a statement Miss Yevko had injuries consistent with a fall from a height.

The police officer leading the investigation, Det Insp Becky Davies, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said via video link that there was no evidence of third party involvement.

She said Miss Yevko did not deliberately jump from the wall to end her life.

Ms Davies said there was no barrier to stop anyone coming off the sea wall and no marking to show people the edge of it, as well as no lighting.

Coroner Alison Longhorn concluded it was an accidental death, and said she would be filing a Prevention of Further Death Report.

She said: "Not only should Network Rail consider carefully actions to reduce the risk of death, they should also do so with some degree of urgency."

She offered her sincere condolences to Albina's mother, family and friends.