14-year-old girl found dead on the beach after falling from the seashore

A 14-year-old girl found dead on a beach after slipping off a jetty in a tragic accident, an inquest has concluded. Albina Yevko was found dead on Devon’s Dawlish beach just hours after she was reported missing.

She had gone for a walk to the shops at dusk but fell on the concrete four meters from the unprotected edge of the wall next to the railway line. She was later airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where she later died from her multiple injuries.

Exeter Coroner Alison Longhorn has now concluded her death was accidental. On Tuesday, she said: “It’s likely he was walking on the beach when he fell.”

The coroner heard he must have “lost” the edge of the wall in the darkness, which had no barrier, lighting or markings, and fell. Another risk assessment of the wall is underway, Network Rail said, with possible additions of handrails, new lighting and signage.

But speaking outside the inquest, Albina’s family called for the wall to be protected and previously asked “how many more children have to die?” They have launched a campaign to stop further tragedies with hundreds of people signing an online petition calling for safety measures to be implemented on the wall.

Network Rail said “all options” would be considered as part of the new risk assessment. But close friends and family hit out at the lack of action to ensure the wall’s safety.

Albina’s family have met with Network Rail and say officials have so far refused to commit to railings and lighting to prevent another death. They say Albina’s tragic death in March was the second to result from the lack of a railing, following the death of Brendan Burnage in 1992. At the time, the wall was owned by the British Railways Board before privatisation.

Albina’s mother Inna said: “Albina was just a child, Brendan Burnage wasn’t much older. How many people must lose their lives?”

Close family friend Cllr Rosie Dawson, who had Albina and Inna stay in her home for nearly nine months, led calls for action. She said: “Losing a child in any family – it should just never happen. It is devastating, catastrophic and has affected our entire lives.

“It was always Inna and her daughter Albina. Life will never be the same.”

Albina and her mother Inna fled their war-torn home after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Devon. Albina attended Dawlish College.