Woman in mobility scooter dies after falling from Dawlish sea wall

There are renewed calls for more safety measures along the sea wall at Dawlish after a woman in a mobility scooter fell to her death.

The incident happened at around 2.30pm on Saturday 13 July. The woman in her 70s died at the scene.

The death comes after a teenager also died falling from the wall in 2023.

Network Rail said is considering if action can be taken to reduce the risk of further fatal accidents.

This latest incident comes after a Ukrainian refugee schoolgirl died after slipping off the wall while walking in the dark.

An inquest heard 14-year-old Albina Yevko, who came to the UK from the war-torn country in April 2022, was reported missing on the evening of 4 March last year.

She was later found unconscious next to the sea wall on Dawlish beach. She was airlifted to hospital in Exeter where she died the next morning.

Following Albina's death, a petition was set up calling for the sea wall to be made safer. It has now had almost 1,500 signatures.

The coroner concluded that Albina's death had been accidental, and is expected to publish a prevention of further deaths report.

The sea wall runs from Dawlish to Dawlish Warren and is popular with walkers and runners, but parts of it have no lights or protective handrail.

A painted line which designed to give users guidance along the wall has also eroded away.

The most recent death has prompted more calls from the community to increase safety measures.

Cllr Rosie Dawson (Lib Dem, Dawlish NE) knew Albina well and is calling for action to make the wall safer.

She said: "This issue here is that we have a very old wall with a great drop that alters throughout the year depending on what level the sands are at. That often become slippy with sand and gravel and grit that’s brought up from the sea.

"We’ve had a few people now who have lost their lives falling and have sustained catastrophic injuries and an even greater list of people who have sustained life-changing injuries or significant injuries, that’s the greatest issue here.

"There’s no protection for people who might slip trip or fall."

"It feels that since Albina Yevko died that not a lot has been done. And obviously now we have another fatality, it’s absolutely crushing for her friends, for her family, and for the friends and family of the people who have lost people before.

"It's absolutely crushing to have another death linked to this wall.

In terms of future changes, Rosie said she wants to see a "physical barrier"

She said: "I think historically there was a white line for a while, that doesn’t stop you from slipping, tripping, or falling to catastrophic injury.

"I think something needs to be done urgently to protect people and I think that should have been done straight after Albina Yevko's death.

"If I’m honest, I don’t think we should have had to wait 16 months for a risk assessment and we’re still waiting now."

Cllr Suzanne Sanders (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) said the most recent incident had had an impact on many local residents.

“Our thoughts are with all of them,” she said. “We really have to address this problem.”

She said Network Rail would be invited to meet councillors again to discuss the area.

Cllr John Parrott (Lib Dem, Kenn Valley) said the rail company had told a Devon Rail Forum meeting that a risk assessment covering the entire length of the wall would be published within eight weeks, and would be followed by a consultation with local councils.

Devon and Cornwall Police said received reports at around 2.30pm on Saturday 13 July after concerns were raised for the welfare of a woman who had fallen from the sea wall on a mobility scooter near Lady's Mile, Dawlish.

In a statement a force spokesperson said: "Emergency services attended the scene, and the road was closed while multiple agencies assisted.

"The woman, who was in her 70s, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and her next of kin are aware.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file was prepared for the coroner."

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to learn of the tragic incident that occurred in Dawlish.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the person involved.

“We are making enquiries to ascertain fully the circumstances surrounding the incident.  

“An independent risk assessment was commissioned following the completion of the second phase of the new wall in 2023 and the outcome is due shortly.  

“We are considering if action can be taken to reduce the risk of death occurring and willbe taking into account the particular circumstances of the incident on 13 July 2024 in our risk assessment of the entire sea wall, old and new.”