Ukrainian teenage refugee dies after going missing in Dawlish

The 14-year-old was found unconscious on Dawlish beach

A teenager from Ukraine who went missing in Devon and sparked a search operation has died, police say.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the 14-year-old girl, who was a refugee living in the Dawlish area with her mother, was found unconscious on Dawlish beach after the alarm was raised on Saturday.

She was airlifted to hospital but later died.

Police said the death was being treated as unexplained and her next of kin had been informed.

Officers said the Ukrainian Embassy and the Home Office had also been made aware of the death.

Det Insp Becky Davies, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "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.

"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."

The force said it was hoped a forensic post-mortem examination would be carried out on Thursday.

Officers said they were carrying out house-to-house inquiries and attempting to secure any CCTV or doorbell camera footage as part of the investigation.