Drink warning after sea drowning

Andy Roberts said the girl was another drink-drown statistic

A 16-year-old girl whose body was washed up on a beach in east Kent had been drinking with friends before going into the sea, the coastguard has said.

An air and sea search involving police, lifeboat, coastguard and RAF teams was launched in Folkestone on Thursday.

The body of the girl, from Ashford, was recovered from a beach in Folkestone at about 2200 BST.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the death highlighted the dangers of drinking alcohol by the sea.

Our message is please don't drink and drown Trevor Dowle, Dover Coastguard

The teenager's family identified the body on Friday but police did not release her name.

The girl was seen drinking with friends by the water's edge near the Rotunda amusement park.

Her sandals were found on the beach.

"She was seen by many members of the public acting in a strange manner and yet no-one intervened to restrain her from going in the water," the MCA's east Kent sector manager, Andy Roberts, said.

"When she did go in the water no-one monitored what she was doing.

"This type of incident is senseless, this girl had her life before her and is another drink-drown statistic."

Trevor Dowle, watch manager with Dover Coastguard, added: "Excessive alcohol impairs judgment and reaction times.

"This can lead to tragic and, in this case, fatal accidents.

"Our message is please don't drink and drown," Mr Dowle said.

A post-mortem examination and an inquest are expected to be held next week.