A tragic incident off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea has resulted in the deaths of three members of the same family. Sussex Police confirmed that a man, a woman, and a teenage girl lost their lives after encountering difficulty while swimming in the sea on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services were alerted to the situation at approximately 14:40 BST, following reports of four individuals in need of urgent medical attention near Shoreham Port. A younger girl from the same family was rescued and transported to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
Chief Superintendent James Collis stated that the victims’ relatives have been notified and are currently receiving support from specialist officers. Regarding the circumstances of the tragedy, he noted, “At this point, we believe all four entered the water from the land for a swim, and sadly got into difficulty.” He added that coastguard teams have concluded an extensive search of the water and are not looking for any other missing persons.
The scale of the emergency response was significant, drawing in coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, air ambulances, police, and paramedics. A spokesperson for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex confirmed that two of its helicopters and a critical care team were deployed to the waterfront to assist in the rescue operation.
Local residents described a chaotic and distressing scene as emergency vehicles converged on the seafront. Shirley Pumfrey, who lives in the area, remarked on the overwhelming presence of responders, calling the sight “horrific and quite scary.” Another resident, Steve Chapman, noted that he was unable to access his street due to police cordons, while Pete Book described seeing helicopters and ambulances rushing to the site as he returned from a local pub.
While the weather was warm, the sea conditions were reportedly challenging. Shelley Ayres, a local resident, observed that the water had become noticeably rougher than it had been for several months. reporter Callum French, who observed the scene, echoed these sentiments, describing the sea as “pretty rough” due to high winds and noting that the emergency turnout was the largest he had witnessed in the area.
In response to the incident, authorities closed a section of the A259, a major commuter route passing through Shoreham, Brighton, and Worthing. Shoreham Port officials confirmed they are coordinating with multiple agencies and have urged the public to continue avoiding the immediate area.
Tom Rutland, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. He stated, “I know the whole community here in Shoreham will be hoping and praying for the recovery of the young girl receiving medical treatment in hospital.”
Chief Superintendent Collis emphasized that the event has had a profound impact on the local community. He encouraged any potential witnesses to come forward, as police inquiries into the exact circumstances of the incident remain ongoing. The report also notes that he said, coastguards have completed an extensive search of the water and are not searching for anyone else. The report also notes that he said inquiries were ongoing to understand the full details, appealing for witnesses. The report also notes that it was very upsetting,” he said, there were all sorts of rumours flying around.
