British runner helps police haul in bundle of cocaine she found washed up on beach

A British woman’s training run near her home on the Isle of Wight this week took a strange turn when she stumbled across a large package containing cocaine that had washed ashore, and helped officers move the bulky bundle further inland before it could be swallowed up by the incoming tide.

Kate Young, who on Sunday was wrapping up her final training session before flying to Morocco for the Sahara Ultra Challenge—an event in which participants run two marathons over two days in the Sahara Desert—when she stumbled upon a suspicious-looking package measuring about 90 by 60 centimetres, partly buried in the sand on a strip of beach.

“I had seen the recent police Facebook post about cocaine washing up on West Wight beaches and thought this looked suspiciously like the same thing,” Young tells the Isle of Wight County Press,” a local newspaper where Young worked as a journalist for 26 years.

Young immediately called the police to alert them of her find. When they arrived, one of the officers peeled back an area of cellophane that was wrapped around the box and discovered similar packaging to the other recently discovered bundle that contained cocaine, Young told the County Press.

Young wasn’t done there, however. With the tide starting to roll in, officers needed to move the hefty haul further inland before it was swallowed up by the water. One officer estimated the waterlogged package weighed up to 60 kilograms. “I asked if I could help and was amazed when they said yes,” Young said.

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A post shared by Kate Couch (was Young) (@runningridingkate)

Once further ashore, officers opened the package and transferred the substance inside to several plastic bags, which were transported to nearby police vehicles. Initial tests indicate the substance was cocaine, although police have not specified the exact amount that was seized.

“I thanked the police and Border Force officers for letting me help—it was a fascinating experience, and something I will remember for a long time to come,” said Young.

In a Facebook post following the eventful training session, Young only hinted at the action that unfolded on the beach, and appeared to be more focused on her upcoming run.

“Last real training session before my Saharan Ultra Challenge for MAD-Aid today so I chose my local coastal path and beach. Temperatures of about 22 deg C and a truly beautiful day,” she wrote. “Had an interesting moment on the beach too—but that’s another story!”

Young is running the Sahara Ultra Challenge, which takes place this weekend, to raise funds for MAD-Aid. The charity, where Young serves as grant manager, helps deliver medical and humanitarian aid to Moldova and Ukraine and provides support to mothers and children taking refuge from the war in Ukraine.