Three members of same family die after getting into difficulty in water at Shoreham

Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort, with a younger girl taken to hospital in a critical condition. Emergency services were called at around 2.40pm on Tuesday to reports of four people in difficulty in the water.

Sussex Police officers supported the Coastguard and the RNLI as all four people were brought ashore. Despite the efforts of paramedics, a man, a woman and a teenage girl were confirmed dead. Police said all four were members of the same family and their next of kin have been informed, with specialist officers providing support.

Police currently believe the four entered the water from the land to swim before getting into difficulty. The Coastguard carried out an extensive search and police have confirmed nobody else is being sought.

Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances, and anyone with information or video footage which could assist is being asked to contact Sussex Police quoting Operation North.