Charmaine George, a 52-year-old grief campaigner, was found dead on a Cornish beach at the same location where her 18-year-old son died in 2020.
Charmaine Lyn George was discovered on the shoreline off Lighthouse Hill at Portreath beach after being spotted by a member of the public on October 5. Emergency crews attended the scene and recovered her body.
A police spokesperson confirmed that her next of kin had been notified and that her death was not being treated as suspicious. Her son Ewan was found dead beneath cliffs at Portreath in 2020.
Inquest Opened in Truro
An inquest into Charmaine's death was opened last Thursday (October 22) in Truro. The inquest was adjourned by assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Guy Davies, to establish the legal cause of death.
The brief hearing heard how officers attended the beach following a welfare check call made by a member of the public. Police faced restricted access to the beach and requested assistance from HM Coastguard. Charmaine was pronounced dead at the scene, her body was recovered, and her next of kin were informed.
Mr Davies stated that investigations were still ongoing and that the medical cause of her death had yet to be determined. He indicated that a full inquest is expected to take place next year.
Grief Campaigner's Legacy
Charmaine, of Islington, London, worked as a travel agent but was known as a grief campaigner who received national recognition for her charitable work. Twelve months after the loss of her son Ewan, she established a grief café.
She subsequently collaborated with the Good Grief Trust to launch new Good Grief Pop Up Cafes throughout Cornwall and further afield. Following an inquest into Ewan's death, the coroner determined there was insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion of suicide.
In 2021, the Good Grief Trust received an invitation to The Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards, where Charmaine was presented with The Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero Award in recognition of founding her café. Following Charmaine's passing, the charity paid tribute to the 52-year-old from Pool, near Redruth.
In a post on its Facebook page the organisation said: "Charmaine had tragically experienced the death of her young son Ewan and was passionate to help others find vital support. In 2021, we were extremely proud to be invited to The Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards where Charmaine won The Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero Award, for starting our Cafe."
"What a proud evening for Charmaine and for us all. 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."
The charity added: "We send her daughter Libby, and her family and friends, all our love and support at this incredibly difficult time."
