30 years on: new image released to identify woman found on Burnham-on-Sea beach
Locate International have issued a new image after the woman was found at the beach on January 13, 1993
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
Three decades ago today, the body of a woman was found at a scenic spot in Somerset.
Now, group Locate International have released a new image in an attempt to identify her at last - after being found on the beach at Burnham-on-Sea on Wednesday, January 13, 1993.
She was located by an off-duty coastguard, found near the Low Lighthouse, and wasn't thought to have been in the sea for very long.
However, this incident happened at the time shortly after the Braer Storm, which was one of the most intense north Atlantic cyclones ever recorded.
3\0 years later, and the identity of the woman still isn't known and it's why the group have released a new image of her in an attempt to try and identify her once-and-for-all.
The image, produced by Scotland-based forensic artist Her Morrison, comes after a unit of volunteer investigators with locate International revisited her case.
The woman is described as being 157cm tall (5’1”), of thin build, and aged between 60 and 70 years. She had very long grey hair and was white, and was wearing a light green and beige overcoat with a dark green fur lined hood, dark ankle socks, and a knee-length black skirt with a ‘Jaeger’ label.
She had one shoe from Stead & Simpson, described as blue with a blue bow and a 1.5” heel and was also wearing black, knitted gloves and a yellow and black patterned scarf.
She was also wearing three cardigans, described as:
- A heavy, light blue knitted cardigan with two pockets, no buttons, and a wraparound belt
- A black cardigan with black beads around the shoulder and neck. This was worn under the blue cardigan.
- A pink cardigan with gold and pink buttons and a long collar. This was also worn under the blue cardigan, although it is not known whether this was also under the black cardigan.
She was wearing a gold band type ring although it is not clear what finger she was wearing this on.
She was also carrying a packet of paracetamol tablets purchased from Superdrug and an ‘After Curry’ mint with the word ‘Kansaras’ on it.
On 12 January 1993, thunder was widespread in the Bristol Channel area, a tornado struck Congresbury, Yatton saw hailstones up to 10mm in size, while streets in Weston-super-Mare were reported to be white with hailstones.
Dave Grimstead, Locate International’s CEO and founder, said:
“As we reach 30 years since her death, we’re hoping someone out there can help unite Burnham-on-Sea woman with her real name. Maybe you recognise her, or her clothes, or served her the Kansaras after-dinner mint, maybe in a curry house. Maybe you remember a woman with very long grey hair in north Somerset around this time?
“We’re also looking into a possible link with the eastern European community in the West Country: did you know anyone with eastern European links at the time who matches her description? Even the smallest details can help move our investigation forward, so we encourage you to come forward.”
You can get in touch with Locate International information by email, calling 03001021011 or on their appeals page.