Tributes are being paid to a teenager from Ukraine who was found dead on a beach in South Devon over the weekend.
A 14-year-old girl who was living in the Dawlish area was reported missing on Saturday evening.
She was subsequently found on Dawlish beach and airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where she later sadly died.
Formal identification has taken place and the girl has been named as Albina Yevko, a Ukrainian national who was living in the Dawlish area.
Albina’s mother, Inna Yevko paid the following tribute to her daughter: “Myself and my family are devastated to have lost our beautiful Albina.
“Nothing can ever replace her in our hearts We ask that our privacy is respected at this incredibly painful time.”
Devon and Cornwall Police said it is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Albina’s death.
Becky Davies, detective inspector, said: “Our investigation continues as we try to piece together Albina’s final hours. Officers continue to undertake door-to-door enquiries as we try to identify any witnesses or CCTV footage that capture Albina’s movements.
“Whilst this death remains unexplained, we are not currently treating this death as suspicious.
“We await the results of the forensic post mortem due to take place on Thursday, but in the meantime we ask that the family and loved ones of Albina are given space and privacy as they come to terms with their loss.
“Our thoughts are very much with those who knew Albina at this tragic time, and the close-knit Dawlish community who will no doubt be in shock over this loss.”
Anyone with any information or who may have CCTV / doorbell footage that can assist officers with the investigation is asked to contact [email protected] quoting case reference 50230052081.
Councils have helped some 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.
