A 51-year-old man from Kettering, Northamptonshire, has died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Brighton beach on New Year's Day morning. Sussex Police were alerted at 10:35am on Thursday after the swimmer was recovered from the water west of Brighton Palace Pier.
Police said the man was brought to shore and received medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed, and the death is not being treated as suspicious. The coroner has been informed.
The incident follows the disappearance of two men during a Christmas Day swim in Budleigh Salterton, Devon. Matthew Upham, 63, and another man in his 40s went missing after entering the water to help a woman in difficulty. Despite a rescue operation, they have not been found.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued advice on the dangers of cold water shock. With average sea temperatures around the UK and Ireland currently between 6°C and 10°C, entering water of 15°C or below poses significant risks. Gareth Morrison, RNLI head of water safety, urged swimmers to be aware of the dangers, check conditions, and understand their limitations, advising first-timers to consult a GP if they have underlying health conditions.
