Cornwall, UK: Mum Charmaine George found dead on Portreath beach, where her son died years earlier

The body of a woman who campaigned for bereaved families was found at the same beach her son died on years earlier.

Charmaine George’s body was located on October 5 by a member of the public on the shoreline off Portreath Beach in Cornwall, The Telegraph reported.

Police, paramedics, and the coastguard were dispatched to the beach but she was pronounced dead soon after.

Her death was not treated as being suspicious.

The body of George’s son, Ewan, was found at the same beach in 2020.

The 18-year-old’s cause of death was believed to be by suicide; however, a coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to definitively say so.

The Sun reported that he was camping with friends before he was found at a place his mum described as the teen’s “happy place”.

“At his inquest, the coroner recorded an open verdict so we will never know whether or not it was suicide,” George said after her son’s death.

“Lighthouse Hill was his happy place. He used to go there a lot with his girlfriend to watch the sunset as it’s very beautiful.”

In the following years, heartbroken mum George opened a “grief cafe” and worked with the Good Grief Trust to launch other pop-up cafes.

At an inquest into the 52-year-old grief campaigner’s death last week, Cornwall’s assistant coroner Guy Davies said the cause of death had not been determined.

He told the coroner’s court in Truro that an investigation was ongoing and a full inquest is expected next year.

In a post on social media, The Good Grief Trust shared a touching tribute to George accompanied by photos of the 52-year-old.

“Today we are so sorry to share this news about a past member of our team, who sadly died earlier this week,” they wrote.

“Charmaine George helped to create new Good Grief Pop Up Cafes with us in Cornwall where she lived and develop our project elsewhere as well.

“She had tragically experienced the death of her young son Ewan and was passionate to help others find vital support.”

The post highlighted George being awarded the Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero Award for starting the cafe at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards in 2021.

“What a proud evening for Charmaine and for us all,” the post continued.

“She helped to improve access to vital support services with the launch of our Good Grief Pop Up Cafes in Cornwall, and helped many others find a way forward with their life, after losing someone they loved.

“We send her daughter Libby, and her family and friends, all our love and support at this incredibly difficult time.”

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.