UK - Blessing Olusegun, 21, body found on Bexhill Beach, unexplained death, 18 Sept 2020

[Sherlockhames]

I could envisage a troubling scenario where some form of mental health episode/anxiety/depression was involved (I speak from personal experience here please do not think I am being insensitive when I bring this up).

Scenario-
Can’t sleep/wakes fretfully at night.
Goes to beach alone at night to “get some air”, “clear my head”, “experience the magic of the sea at night time”
Doesn’t have a formed plan of doing anything in particular but equally doesn’t have a means of being returned fully present to the here and now to make a risk assessment of the dangers or otherwise of the water.
Messages family at some point on the way to the beach - was this fearful (someone is following me, making a safety call) or cryptic (this place is beautiful, isn’t life great)? The reported “never mind” makes me feel quite sad because it indicates to me perhaps she might have been looking for emotional support but had not/could not articulate what she actually needed (because she didn’t really know herself).
Perhaps she leaves her phone and shoes on the beach for safe keeping and intends to paddle to “feel something”.
The cold water takes over or maybe she goes for a swim.
An element of cold water shock has a devastating effect and sadly she drowns?

Things I would want to know to test this theory -
What was the weather like the night she went missing (not that it would matter per se but if she just wanted to clear her head then a calm night might draw one to the sea, whereas if it was really nasty out that might just make the beach a bit TOO wild in terms of matching any emotional turmoil which would lead me to seek other reasons for her being by the beach at 1.30am)
Were there any other last messages she left? Were they emotional? Mundane? Cryptic as to an emotional state her family were unaware of (mental health problems very often hidden by sufferers - much to horror of loved ones when they finally discover them).
What was the tide doing - her belongings were reportedly found 300m up the beach from where she was found, but was this 6 hours after she went into the water? Was the tide going out? Can any locals advise on the tidal distance? And also, anyone know how strong or otherwise the tides in that location can be?
Could she swim well? I only ask because the currents and waves on the beaches can be misleadingly strong (even if the water appears calm) and unless one knows the area well (does anyone know if she was a regular visitor to that part of the coast?) then what might have looked like calm sea could have been v treacherous. Not suggesting there was any intention to take her own life, but maybe it was a tragic accident but with something else going on that drew her to the sea?

Alternatives-
Did she meet anyone in Bexhill who she was planning to meet up with that night who could have wanted to do her harm?
Was she followed to the beach?
Were there any other suspicious individuals walking around the area at the same time that could have an intention to do harm?

 

[CuriousObserver1]

I could envisage a troubling scenario where some form of mental health episode/anxiety/depression was involved (I speak from personal experience here please do not think I am being insensitive when I bring this up).

Scenario-
Perhaps she leaves her phone and shoes on the beach for safe keeping and intends to paddle to “feel something”.
The cold water takes over or maybe she goes for a swim.
An element of cold water shock has a devastating effect and sadly she drowns?

I think the accidental drowning is a strong theory especially as she was found so close to her phone/slippers - as if she did not go far out and drowned in shallow water. I know (from friends/family/in the news) that many of the BAME community are not confident swimmers - there have been a number of cases where people have come down from London and drowned or in pools - there was even a campaign launched last year: Alice Dearing: Black Swimming Association charity launched to get BAME people swimming and safe in the water - BBC Sport

 

[Sherlockhames]

I think the accidental drowning is a strong theory especially as she was found so close to her phone/slippers - as if she did not go far out and drowned in shallow water. I know (from friends/family/in the news) that many of the BAME community are not confident swimmers - there have been a number of cases where people have come down from London and drowned or in pools - there was even a campaign launched last year: Alice Dearing: Black Swimming Association charity launched to get BAME people swimming and safe in the water - BBC Sport

And then tide goes out, leaving her apparently a distance from the sea. But if she arrived at high tide, and then is found at low tide it tallies. This was my theory - and then I checked local tide times for the night she went missing/morning she was found. The tide would have been higher when she approached the beach, was low at 06.08am and then returning up the beach before she was found. So when she went into the water potentially higher up the beach she was much closer to her belongings. All IMO, just my own interpretation.

Hastings Tide Times | Tidetimes.co.uk

ETA - I make no comment about her swimming ability or otherwise, except to note that even a confident/competent swimmer could get caught in a nasty current on an outgoing tide, especially at night. I think the dangers are that many people are to a certain extent ignorant of the dangers of sea currents because they are often invisible. And especially so on a calm night when the danger lurks beneath (as it were).

ETA 2 - looking at the specifics of the tide too, it looks like it was a new moon. Which I think creates even stronger tidal flow (surfers love surfing on “spring” tides because of that stronger tidal flow). But unless you are hyper local and know about these issues I can foresee a terrible, terrible miscalculation as to the strength of the sea that she may just have been powerless to resist at night even if she has just intended to paddle. So absolutely no blame. I wonder whether any of this has potentially been explained to friends and family? The death would then be recorded as “unexplained” because the coroner can’t determine whether it would have been accidental or suicide. I would err on the side of accidental, but without the proof not sure the coroner would make a determination?

But even if there was someone else involved, the positioning of her belongings and the finding of her body still accord with a huge tidal flow reach as it would have been much higher around the time she was last spotted on cctv at c1.30am.

 

[Sherlockhames]

One more data point for the night before Blessing was tragically found dead.

The weather for Eastbourne (v close along the coast) was pretty balmy that night.

Almost unseasonably warm (or Indian Summer as we brits often call shirtsleeves weather in September) so I can fully envisage a scenario where a girl, high on life, loving being the by the sea, takes a walk after dark to go and have a spiritual moment by the sea.
The more I look at this the more I err on the side of tragic accident.

Cool but not cold, dark September night (no moon)
Calm sea, inviting and peaceful.
Removes shoes, leaves phone safely with shoes near to the shoreline.
Heads towards water for a paddle at a high-ish tide but with a strong invisible current and with the sea going out - but not being aware of this, not being local.
She paddles for a bit, loses her footing, tragically gets dragged into the water and cannot put her feet down due to the rapid fall in gradient of the beach.
Strong tidal current pulls her further away from the the shore.
No-one about to help her.

From the viewing point below one can see the steep gradient of the beach:

Google Maps

I literally shudder at the thought of this as I grew up on the Sussex coast and have been in a v similar situation myself. I have just always been quite scared of the sea down there because I myself am not a strong swimmer and knowing the beach gradient have been caught out a couple of times and struck with terror as I lost my footing on a strong wave when the tide was high. For that reason I never spent much time on the beach.

I could totally identify with a scenario of being unable to sleep so going for a walk on my own, going down to the beach, attracted by the sea (being spiritual and wanting to feel the waves etc etc) but then a horrid tragic scenario unrolling. Myself, I just would maybe have stopped - but only because my own fear and experience of that coastline would make me scared. Without that local knowledge there would be no reason not to think a paddle would be anything but just that.

Maybe also fits with what she said to her friend that night:

“She was saying to me she couldn’t sleep and that she wanted to go for a walk.

I offered to stay on the phone but she said ‘nevermind.’

To me she was fine, perfectly happy. She was in a good place I thought.”

I really hope the family gets answers though as this is all my own rationalisation of what could have occurred so there may be a lot of information I am unaware of. But since it seems so innocuous and unfair I would want to be sure there wasn’t a different alternative scenario.

 

[sundaaaay]

The accidental drowning theory seems to make sense, her shoes and phone were neatly placed by the shore which implies they were to be collected when she exited the water. I wish we knew her ability to swim. Is there definitely a steep gradient here? Often Sandy beaches are shallow for quite a distance. Also, is there any chance of a rogue wave on this shoreline? Unlikely but they can happen

 

[Sherlockhames]

The accidental drowning theory seems to make sense, her shoes and phone were neatly placed by the shore which implies they were to be collected when she exited the water. I wish we knew her ability to swim. Is there definitely a steep gradient here? Often Sandy beaches are shallow for quite a distance. Also, is there any chance of a rogue wave on this shoreline? Unlikely but they can happen

I can’t make it out clearly from google. But the presence of the wooden “groynes ” indicates likely strong tidal flow. Those beaches are shingle - so the groynes stop the “beach” being washed too far one way or the other due to long shore drift. Also means that the exact gradient of the beach on the 18 September won’t necessarily match what you see on google images today as they are always changing.
Also, those shingle beaches are an absolute ***tard to walk on in bare feet. I broke my toe over the summer on similar (although opposite reason to here - took a paddle board out, life jacket, etc, made incorrect assumption the water would be deep, fell off said paddle board and broke my little toe as it was only about 20cm deep. End of paddle boarding!).

My point being - really hard to get a footing on that horrid shingle in bare feet, especially if it is sloping away from you. It’s basically horrible for paddling, sooo painful under foot - but swimming is ok).

This image side on to beach gives you an idea how rapidly it can slope away. Again - caution that this might not have been the exact case on the night of the 18 September as they are always changing - but gives you an idea of what it could have been like. But someone not local might not have been aware of the risks.

(Above from google image search, beach at Galley View, Bexhill)

 

[sundaaaay]

The gradient looks steep to me. I see this case as sadly a fatal error of judgment after going on an adventure at night, rather than suicide, but we will probably never know.

I see no reason to compare this case to S Everand who was simply walking home in a capital city. Completely different scenario here. She seems to have decided enter the sea in the early hours of the morning alone.

 

[Sherlockhames]

We may never know.

But yes, different circumstances to SE as there is a more explainable, more likely explanation to this tragic death than spirited away/killed in the night by a stranger.

Her death is obviously tragic, but if I was a friend or family I might take more comfort from knowing that she was likely really happy and loving life right up until those final seconds; rather than an alternative scenario where she was stalked, in fear right up to her her death. It might be easier to maybe want someone to blame for this accident. But sometimes **** stuff just happens. But perhaps there is no one to blame - so maybe see the positives in that she wasn’t fearful, she was possibly blissfully happy, right up until those tragic final moments.

 

[elliefant]

The gradient looks steep to me. I see this case as sadly a fatal error of judgment after going on an adventure at night, rather than suicide, but we will probably never know.

I see no reason to compare this case to S Everand who was simply walking home in a capital city. Completely different scenario here. She seems to have decided enter the sea in the early hours of the morning alone.

It is indeed steep close to shore. In a succession of pebble “hills”. Some very difficult to clamber back up and stay upright as the pebbles give way.

After that is a long stretch of quite flat sand until you reach the water if the tide is out, and a shorter stretch (almost none) of flat sand when the tide comes in.

 

[RobinCAL]

What happened to Blessing Olusegun?

 

[tedtink]

This case reminds me of the recent KF disappearance.
She was last seen walking on the beach in ST Annes.
Although KF had some posts on her FB which could lead to much speculation, BO does not as far as I'm aware.

Lancashire Constabulary - Update on search for missing Katie Foulds as officers continue to appeal for witnesses

 

[dotr]

This case reminds me of the recent KF disappearance.
She was last seen walking on the beach in ST Annes.
Although KF had some posts on her FB which could lead to much speculation, BO does not as far as I'm aware.

Lancashire Constabulary - Update on search for missing Katie Foulds as officers continue to appeal for witnesses

Ws thread..
UK - UK - Katie Foulds, 22, South Promenade, St Anne’s, 10 Feb 2021

 

[tedtink]

Ws thread..
UK - UK - Katie Foulds, 22, South Promenade, St Anne’s, 10 Feb 2021

Thanks dotr, I would have tried linking it myself, but would have messed it up I'm sure.

 

[tedtink]

What happened to Blessing Olusegun?

So sad.
I just wonder if she felt very low and felt she couldn't speak to anyone about how she was?
I know that's an assumption as we don't know what kind of relationship she had with those close to her.
There's of course always the possibility that someone else was on the beach that night.
Or a tragic accident occurred.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Blessing Olusegun: Fight continues for answers over death

The mother of a woman who was found dead on a beach has said she is still searching for answers a year on.

A memorial has been held for Blessing Olusegun, 21, from London, who was found dead in Bexhill in East Sussex.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A 21-year-old woman whose body was found on a beach died as a result of an accident, a coroner has ruled.

Blessing Olusegun was found on Bexhill seafront in September 2020 and a post-mortem concluded she had drowned.

The inquest in Hastings heard that she couldn't swim but her mother said she would not have gone into the sea intentionally.

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 in Hastings coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The business student from Thamesmead, south-east London, had been a placement as a carer in Bexhill, East Sussex, and was found with her shoes and phone near her.

Her body was wet and the tide was out when she was found by a dog walker, the inquest heard.

In a statement to the coroner, Ms Olusegun's mother, Esther Abe, said 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."

Miss Olusegun saw a therapist in 2017 and was discharged from NHS mental health services that year, when she turned 18.

But in 2018 Miss Olusegun 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, at 01:24 BST, she 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 PC 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 Ms Olusegun on 24 September 2020, finding the cause of death as drowning.

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

Blessing Olusegun: Death of woman found on Bexhill beach ruled an accident

An inquest heard that Blessing Olusegun, who was found dead on Bexhill seafront, couldn't swim.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[hannah246]

bump

 

[MelmothTheLost]

So sad.
I just wonder if she felt very low and felt she couldn't speak to anyone about how she was?
I know that's an assumption as we don't know what kind of relationship she had with those close to her.
There's of course always the possibility that someone else was on the beach that night.
Or a tragic accident occurred.

The UK was not in lockdown at the time Blossom died, but the experience of the first lockdown, especially with it being imposed so suddenly, left many people with at least some mental health problems, temporary or more long term, such as depression, isolation and anxiety, so I wouldn't necessarily rule out suicide.

However it's obvious from previous posts that Blessing had long standing mental health problems for which she had been receiving treatment. Regardless of the verdict of the inquest, I do think suicide is a real possibility.