Missing Child – Police Report

Case no: 00143                          Date:20/08/21

Reporting Officer: PC Solomon

On Friday 18th August, Cherry Pie an eleven year old girl was reported missing near Zennor, near St Ives, Cornwall.It is believed, she was swept out to sea at approximately 1830 hours.

Cherry is described as having long, dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 4 foot 5 inches tall and has a rasy complexion. She wore navy blue, spotty jeans, a blue swimsuit and a Manchester United hoodie. She had brown sandals on her feet.

After breakfast, the family got ready to go to the beach. They left the cottage around 1030 hours with Cherry leading the way. She was followed by Mr and Mrs Pie. The boys were far behind carrying their snorkelling equipment towards the beach

Witnesses claim, that Cherry was collecting her pink cowrie shells in the cove behind the rocks and on the cliff edge. Her brothers were snorkelling, Mrs Pie was reading whilst Mr Pie slept on his deckchair. Then they had tomatoes and pasties for lunch.

Approximately 1500 hours Mr and Mrs Pie left the beach to go and tidy the cottage. They gave Cherry certain rules to follow: not to bathe by herself, keep her sun hat on, put her sun cream on and to be back before dark. Around 1830 hours, her brothers returned to the cottage and it was then that the family started to worry. The last sighting of Cherry was at 1830 hours. The family ate dinner but Cherry did still not return. Mrs Pie was concerned because the light had faded and a storm was headed for them. Mr Pie called Mrs Doggo ( the owner of the cottage) who knew Cherry well. She advised that they called Search and Rescue.

Mrs Pie called Search and Rescue and they deployed a lifeboat to try and find her on the beach or in the sea. Mr Pie retraced his steps along the cliff top to reach the beach but still no sign of Cherry. The Search and Rescue team called off the search at 2230 hours.

Saturday 19th August 0730 hours, a coastguard arrived with a towel that he found at the cliff edge. Mrs Pie identified the towel as Cherry’s. The family was visibly upset at the sight of the towel.  The thorough search has not revealed the whereabouts of the child. The search will continue and might end in a high note but most likely to end in a negative note. It is presumed that the child has drowned.