A WOMAN whose body was found on a beach died as a result of a drowning accident, a coroner has ruled

Blessing Olusegun was found on Bexhill seafront, near Galley Hill, in September 2020.

A post-mortem concluded that the 21-year-old had drowned.

An inquest in Hastings heard that she couldn't swim, but her mother said her daughter would not have gone into the sea intentionally, according to the BBC.

The family have campaigned for further investigation into the death, but police say there was no evidence of a crime.

Following a one-day inquest, coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The Argus: Blessing Olusegun, 21, was found on Bexhill beach in September 2020 Blessing Olusegun, 21, was found on Bexhill beach in September 2020

Blessing, a business student from London, had been on placement as a carer in Bexhill.

Her body was wet and the tide was out when she was found by a dog walker, the inquest heard. She was found with her shoes and phone near her.

In a statement to the coroner, her mother Esther Abe said that in 2016 her daughter was taken to A&E after overdosing on paracetamol. The incident was triggered by a flashback to being sexually assaulted as a child in Nigeria, she said.

Mrs Abe said: "She was smiling and said it was nothing serious. She called the ambulance as she didn't want to hurt herself or die."

Blessing saw a therapist in 2017 and was discharged from NHS mental health services that year, when she turned 18. But in 2018 she self-harmed.

Mrs Abe said her daughter then recovered from her mental health issues.

"She was working hard but still knew how to enjoy herself," she said. "Her favourite quote was, 'I'm living my best life'."

On the morning she died, she had texted her mother to say, "I love you", and then sent the pin code to her bank account as Mrs Abe was due to use the card that day, the inquest heard.

Mrs Abe's statement added: "I know my daughter and I know how she was at that time. She had difficulties with her mental health, but she was better.

"I completely do not believe she meant to harm herself on the beach. I think it could either be an accident or third-party involvement."

Mrs Abe said her daughter did not know how to swim, adding: "I don't think she would have gone in intentionally."

A statement from Police Constable Sally Blick, the response officer for Sussex Police, said: "From searching the body, the scene and surrounding areas, there had been nothing to suggest any third party had been involved in this matter."

Consultant pathologist Dr Anna Rycroft carried out a post mortem examination of Blessing on September 24, 2020, and found the cause of death was drowning.

Dr Rycroft told the inquest: "There is nothing to suggest there was third-party involvement that caused her to be in the sea."