Girl’s body found on sandbank

Tragedy struck on Margate beach when a missing six-yearold girl was found dead on a sandbank.

The alarm was raised after the youngster disappeared on Saturday afternoon, sparking a desperate search by lifeguards.

It is understood she may have been missing for up to an hour before her body was discovered in the harbour at about 3.10pm.

Witnesses reported seeing something in the choppy seas about 20 minutes before, but it was not until the tide started to go out that it was apparent it could be a body.

Alex and Jane Fright were sitting on the sea defence steps near the junction with Market Street when they first spotted something.

“I asked Alex, ‘what’s that in the water?’” said mum-of-two Mrs Fright.

“It could have been anything – some driftwood, or even a deflated dinghy. There were so many inflatables and lilos floating around in the harbour and the water was really choppy.”

As the tide receded, the couple grew more concerned, with Mr Fright eventually running through the water to where the girl had washed up.

“I stayed on the steps, but I could see Alex on the phone straight away, so I just knew it was a body,” she said.

Paramedics performed CPR on the beach and the girl was rushed to Margate’s QEQM Hospital, where she later died. Police confirmed on Sunday morning that the girl, who was from Erith, had died. Her next of kin have been informed and there are no suspicious circumstances. A report is being prepared for the coroner.