The Shoreham sea tragedy has left three family members dead. Meanwhile, a young girl remains critically ill in hospital.
Emergency services rushed to Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex on Tuesday afternoon. Police received reports of four people struggling in the water near Shoreham Fort. The family had reportedly entered the sea for a swim. However, the situation quickly developed into a major rescue operation.
Sussex Police confirmed that a man, a woman and a teenage girl had died. Meanwhile, a younger girl remains in critical condition at hospital. Officers have not released the victims’ identities. They have also informed the family’s next of kin, while specialist officers continue supporting the relatives.
Chief Superintendent James Collis described the emergency response on Tuesday evening. He said emergency services received the initial call at around 2.40pm. Police officers then joined HM Coastguard and the RNLI at the scene. Rescuers brought all four people back to shore, while paramedics attempted to save their lives.
Despite those efforts, three family members died. The younger girl, meanwhile, received urgent medical treatment at hospital. The Shoreham sea tragedy prompted a major response from several emergency services. Several ambulances attended the scene, alongside two air ambulances and an HM Coastguard helicopter.
Rescue teams also travelled from Littlehampton, Newhaven and Shoreham. In addition, the RNLI sent its Shoreham lifeboat to assist with the operation. The lifeboat station sits across the River Adur from Shoreham Fort. Furthermore, coastguard teams searched the surrounding waters following the incident.
Police later confirmed that rescuers were not searching for anyone else. However, officers continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.Police believe the family entered the water to swim. Nevertheless, investigators have not confirmed what caused the group to get into difficulty.
Local residents described the area as quiet and relatively secluded. One resident also claimed the family had recently stayed near the harbour. The resident said they had noticed tents near the waterfront. Meanwhile, local fisherman Alan Facer discussed the conditions around the time of the incident.
He said the wind had come from the south-west earlier that day. According to Facer, such conditions can create stronger waves in the area. He also noted that the tide stood relatively high around 3pm. Therefore, the conditions may have made the water particularly challenging.
However, authorities have not confirmed whether weather or tidal conditions contributed to the incident. Police will continue examining the circumstances as their investigation progresses. Local politicians have also expressed their sympathy following the tragedy. East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tom Rutland described the incident as deeply saddening.
He offered his thoughts to the victims’ relatives and friends. He also expressed hope for the young girl’s recovery. The Shoreham community now awaits further updates about her condition. At the same time, police continue supporting the bereaved family. The Shoreham sea tragedy has shocked residents across the coastal community. For now, authorities have urged people to avoid speculation about what happened.
Further details may emerge as investigators establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
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