The mother of a 14-year-old Ukrainian girl found dead on a UK beach has paid tribute to her "beautiful" daughter. Albina Yevko was found dead on Dawlish beach in Devon on Saturday evening - just hours after she was reported missing.
It is understood she fled her war-torn home after the Russian invasion to the Devon town and was attending the local secondary school. Devon and Cornwall Police say the cause of death is still 'unexplained'and forensic toxicology reports from a post-mortem examination are expected to provide the answers later this week.
But paying tribute, alongside the release of a photo of her daughter, mum Inna Yevko said: “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.”
Police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death after being called on the evening of Saturday 4 March to reports of a 14-year-old girl missing from the Dawlish area. 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. Officers said they are keeping an open mind but her death was not currently being treated as suspicious.
The local community in Dawlish have continued to expressed their shock at her discovery. It was understood Inna and her daughter were living with a host family after fleeing the conflict.
One close family friend, who also lived in Dawlish, also paid tribute to her today. They said: "I want to honor the memory of my friend's daughter from Ukraine. She was not only young, but also very bright, smart, interesting, she loved to draw.
"She was a good person. I can't believe this could happen to her. We are all a society and we know about stereotypes. That this person is more likely to get into such a story. This is the law of regularity. But what happened to Albina is complete nonsense.
"Albina always discussed with her mother what she would do and where she would go. Thanks to all the services of England for responding so quickly to the search request.
"It is unfortunate that medicine did not have time to help. Please help us find out what happened so that we can warn everyone that there were no such mistakes, not only among Ukrainian children, but also among English children.
"I have known this family since May last year. We met here. They were lucky to live with their family host.
"They liked England. Inna is a specialist in the IT industry. She had a job.
"Albina rejoiced at the new school. Maybe I found new friends. We met for lunch together. We celebrated the new year together.
"I found good people in them. I have only good memories of our time together."
