Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre dies aged 41

BREAKING NEWS

Giuffre, who was one of the most outspoken accusers of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, alleged that they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim which Prince Andrew has strongly denied.

In a statement released just hours ago, her family said:  "It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia.

"She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."

They added: "Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.

"In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight."

Virginia was one of the most outspoken accusers of both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

She claimed that they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim Prince Andrew has denied.

Police later confirmed that emergency services had recieved reports of an unresponsive woman at a house in Neergabby, a suburb of Perth, on Friday night.

A police spokesperson said: "Police and St John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene.

"The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious."