Bodies recovered from Brighton sea identified as members of same family
The three women whose bodies were pulled from the sea near Brighton are all related, it has been revealed.
But police said it would not be appropriate to publicly name them until the process to formally identify them is completed.
A dental nurse believed to be in Jamaica posted on social media that she was related to all three of the victims.
She wrote: ‘My mum just called me to tell me the bodies of the three women that were found in Brighton Beach are my cousins.
It is believed that all three victims are between 20 and 30-years-old and from London.
It remains unclear how the relatives came into trouble in the water which was rough in the early hours of Wednesday.
A coastguard source told the Daily Mail: ‘The shoreline off Brighton Beach slopes steeply and many people don’t realise the danger. You don’t have to go far out at all before there’s a big drop-off and you go from knee-high water to chest-high water.
‘Swimmers can be pulled out of their depth very quickly from the backwash and with pebbles shifting underfoot it becomes difficult to maintain your balance, especially when you’re trying to climb back up the slope with waves crashing against you.
‘One theory that the coastguard are looking at is that the women went into the sea for a paddle and strayed too far out and were caught out by the sudden drop. They hadn’t removed their clothes so they hadn’t gone swimming.’
There is no evidence to suggest criminality or that anyone else was involved, Sussex Police said in an update this morning.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: ‘This is an utterly heartbreaking tragedy, and my thoughts are with the loved ones of these three young women after their devastating loss.
‘They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families, and the wider public, desperately seek.
‘This is a sensitive investigation that includes a number of hypotheses, and it would not be appropriate to speculate as we continue to gather evidence.
‘I would once again ask for the public’s patience while we establish the full facts, which will be shared publicly as soon as we are able.’
Emergency services were called after concerns were raised for a woman’s welfare at around 5.45am on Wednesday, before three bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive on Brighton’s seafront.
Reacting to the deaths, Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said she was ‘shocked and deeply saddened’, and her heart goes out to the women’s families.
Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP Chris Ward added it was ‘deeply tragic news’ which was concerning for the community and everyone affected.
Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle said that it was a ‘sobering and heartbreaking reminder’ that families, neighbours and communities are what is important.
‘We will all be working with emergency services, tourism services and the seafront office to further promote messages about the risks around water,’ he said on Wednesday.
‘Our seafront is one of the many jewels in the crown of our city but the sea can be a risk. However, for tonight I shall only be thinking about the families and friends affected by this tragedy.’
Politics Editor
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