Sussex Police Identify Three Women Recovered From Sea Off Brighton Beach Near Madeira Drive

Police believe they have identified three women whose bodies were recovered from the sea off Brighton beach near Madeira Drive after emergency services were called at around 5.45am on Wednesday.

“- Published Police say they believe they have identified the three women who died in the sea off Brighton beach following "extensive" inquiries”

BBC

Sussex Police said officers believe they have identified all three women and their next of kin have been informed, but it would not be appropriate to publicly name them until formal identification is completed.

BBC

The investigation is ongoing to understand how the women came to be in the water, and Sussex Police said there is no evidence to suggest criminality or anyone else was involved.

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."

Sussex Police asked anyone with further information to contact them online or on 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the deaths off the Brighton coast.

Chris Ward, the Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP, said it was "deeply tragic news" and concerning for the community and everyone affected.

Brighton and Hove News

Peter Kyle, the Hove and Portslade MP, called it a "sobering and heartbreaking reminder" and said he would be working with emergency services, tourism services and the seafront office to promote messages about the risks around water.

Sussex Police said the probe includes a "number of hypotheses" and that it would not be appropriate to speculate as officers continue to gather evidence.

The BBC said the coastguard had ended its search and was not looking for anyone else, while Sussex Police described the case as a "sensitive investigation that includes a number of hypotheses."

Sussex Police said the beach reopened later in the evening and officers had left the scene, while an investigation continued into how the women came to be in the water.

“Police believe they have now identified three young women whose bodies were found off Brighton beach yesterday morning Emergency services were called to the beach near Black Rock car park off Madeira Drive at around 5”

Brighton and Hove News

The BBC reported that formal identification was now being undertaken and that it would not be appropriate to publicly name the women before these procedures are completed.

The BBC said it was not yet known how the women came to be in the water, but one line of inquiry police are exploring is that the women may have gone into the sea from the beach and then got into difficulty.

Sussex Police said there was no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality, and anyone with information that could help police was asked to contact the force.

In the BBC account, Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said, "They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families, and the wider public, desperately seek," as the investigation continued.