The family of a young mum who lived for her children and whose body was discovered in a river four miles from home is on the hunt for answers about what happened. Natasha Birkin, who was known to her loved ones as Tasha, was found in the River Fal on the Roseland on February 8.
That morning the 35-year-old, who was described by her sister Sharna Birkin as a "bubbly outgoing character with a big heart" and the kind of person who would talk to and befriend anyone, left her home on Newham Road in Truro but never turned up at the house of a friend she had been due to visit.
Sharna, speaking on behalf of the family, said her two children said she had seemed happy and cheerful that morning, adding to the mystery about what happened. They said the police have been investigating her sister's untimely death but have excluded foul play, leaving more of their questions unanswered.
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Sharna said the discovery of her sister's body at Ruan Lanihorne had baffled everyone as it is not an area she was known to have ever visited. Now her family have launched an appeal in the hope it can jog people's memories of that day back in February ahead of the inquest into her death scheduled for October 8.
In a post on Facebook she said: “We are looking for answers as to what led to her death. Please, if anyone saw Tasha on that day, could you get in touch? Did anyone see or speak to her? I appreciate it was a couple of months ago but we are just looking for answers as there is now an inquest and we don't believe she was alone, as this is very out of character for her.
"She would have been wearing a tracksuit and sliders. Any information please get in touch as the family would be very grateful."
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She told CornwallLive: "Tasha was very bubbly outgoing character with a big heart. She would talk to anyone and was always helping others in need. She lived for her children they were her world. She was a very family oriented person.
"Her interest were socialising with family and friends she loved the beaches in Cornwall and often went with the children and when family come down to see her she would always take us to her favourite. She was a full time mum at the time but previously did care work and was a support worker for vulnerable adults."
They added: "Tasha made a lot of friends that she considered to be family she has the type of personality that would leave a lasting impression."
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Tasha was last seen at around 11am in the Trelander area of the city. She is believed to have visited a local shop before driving down the back lane past Penair School on to the main road and headed toward Ruan. Her body was found in the estuary at around 9.30pm when the tide went back out.
Sharna added: "We're unsure of whether she was alone or not. It’s just very out of character for her to go to that spot given she never took any family members or friends there. At the time it was spring tides and storms and there was rain and the weather was bad, she also went out in sliders and without a coat which is unusual to go and sit somewhere out in these conditions.
"The police believe there’s no foul play but we just feel it hasn’t really been investigated thoroughly as we, her family, had found Tasha's bag phone and car keys when the police just have the location of the car and her body. All this has been passed on to the police who are now doing a download of her phone to see if they can find any answer on there."
Anyone who remembers seeing Tasha on the day she died can contact Sharna through Facebook here or on her sister Emy's page here.
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