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A father's grief: Tragic Bernadette Lee's father reveals she tried to get into sister's house before Deal snow death

00:01, 22 January 2013

updated: 14:55, 15 November 2019

Tributes have been paid to Bernadette Lee, found dead in the snow in Deal
Tributes have been paid to Bernadette Lee, found dead in the snow in Deal

Bernadette Lee was found dead in the snow in Deal

The father of a young woman who died in the snow in Deal after a
night out has revealed she desperately tried to get into her
sister's house.

Roger Lee said Bernadette Lee had been out with sister
Jodie when the pair lost each other in the early hours of
Sunday.

Tragic Bernadette, 25, had tried to get into her
Church Meadows house - but Jodie was staying with a friend.

She was discovered dead in freezing conditions, wearing a dress
and without shoes or a coat, after she is believed to have
fallen.

Tributes have been paid to Bernadette Lee, found dead in the snow in Deal
Tributes have been paid to Bernadette Lee, found dead in the snow in Deal

In a cruel twist, it has emerged Bernadette - who had
her own business as a teeth whitening practitioner - lived
with her father in Southwall Road... just two streets away.

Mr Lee, 63, said: "Bernadette was so confident. So
good looking. She liked to dress well.

"They went out on Saturday night, got split up. Bernadette was
on her own and she tried to get into Jodie's house.

"She was supposed to be staying at her friend's house. She was
lovely. One of those girls who would say, 'Come on. It's one
life.'"

Bernadette, pictured right and known to friends as Bernie, was
found dead in the garden next door to Jodie's house at about
7.30am.

Kent Police launched an investigation, but Bernadette's death is
not being treated as suspicious.

Officers are now preparing a report for the coroner ahead of a
post mortem examination due to be held later this week.

Bernadette was described by friends as "bubbly, chatty" and "a
beautiful young woman".

Hundreds of people have 'liked' a Facebook page set up in her memory called R.I.P The beautiful Bernadette Lucy Lee.

Floral tributes at the spot where Bernadette Lee died in the snow
Floral tributes at the spot where Bernadette Lee died in the snow

Floral tributes at the
spot where Bernadette Lee died in the snow

Police officers were called to the scene along with a crew from
South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "It appears to have been a
non-suspicious death - a tragic accident.

"She had almost made it the address she was staying at.

"We don't know exactly how she has come to be in the snow and
that will form part of the report we prepare for the coroner.

"A post mortem examination will be held later this week."

Church Lane/Church Meadows
Church Lane/Church Meadows

The scene of the woman's
death in Church Meadows, Deal

Anyone with any information about the death is asked to phone police on 101.

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