Heartrending Twist in Tale of Skegness Lass Found Dead in Freezing Cold

A Lincoln Coroner has offered her heartfelt sympathies to the kin of Petra Maria Ross, a 23-year-old lass from Skegness, who was found lifeless after a two-day search. Petra had been attempting to stroll home following a dispute with a mate, ill-prepared for the biting cold and is suspected to have tumbled from a jetty. Petra was last spotted by her family around 3.30pm on 17th January 2024, and was reported missing on 19th January. The hearing at Lincoln Coroner’s Court unveiled that Petra had been at a friend’s dwelling that evening, and departed at around 11pm for Asda. She purchased a throw-away vape and a bottle of red vino before being picked up by a male companion who drove them to Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve. Following a row, during which the friend reproached Petra for her inebriation and admonished her to get her life in order, Petra attempted to drive away. However, the friend ejected her from the vehicle and sped off, returning shortly to coax her back into the vehicle. Unfortunately, Petra, clad in a strappy top, black trews, and white trainers, had disappeared. The friend, who claimed to have spotted a figure sauntering across the fields assumed to be Petra, left her mobile and jacket on a bench after she failed to respond to his calls. Petra is believed to have embarked on the trek back home on the cold, moonless night. Despite the challenging conditions, an officer attempted to retrace Petra’s steps, but found it impossible due to the inland water hazards. The freezing conditions of the early hours of 18th January, which plummeted to -6C, proved too harsh for Petra. It is thought that she spotted a white boat and sought refuge there, but slipped or fell. She was discovered in the mud under the jetty on 21st January 2024, and it was confirmed that she did not drown. The inquest, presided over by Coroner Jayne Wilkes, concluded on 2nd April at the Myle Cross Centre in Lincoln. It was noted that the police had undertaken a meticulous investigation, interviewing the male friend who had left Petra at the car park near South Parade for the nature reserve. However, there were no charges as there was insufficient evidence. The friend, who was found to have not been at the location where Petra was discovered, was deemed truthful and consistent in his interviews. Despite the comprehensive search for Petra, involving search and rescue teams, officers, and dogs, efforts were thwarted by adverse weather conditions. Coroner Wilkes, providing a narrative conclusion into Petra’s death, stated, ‘It’s possible that at some point she saw the boat as some form of shelter and may have slipped trying to reach it.’ She added, ‘This is a tragic set of circumstances for a number of reasons.’