Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort, West Sussex. A younger girl from the family remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Emergency response and casualties
Emergency services responded to reports of four people struggling in the water near Shoreham Fort on Tuesday afternoon. Numerous ambulances and two air ambulances were spotted in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, close to the RNLI station.
Sussex Police confirmed that a man, a woman and a teenage girl were pronounced dead at the scene. A younger girl was taken to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.
Police statement
Chief Superintendent James Collis said: "Around 2.40 pm this afternoon, emergency services were called to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. Sussex Police supported His Majesty's Coast Guard and the RNLI as all four people were brought to shore."
"Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people – a man, a woman, and a teenage girl – were sadly confirmed deceased."
"A younger girl has been taken to hospital and is in critical condition. We can confirm all four people were from the same family, and their next of kin have been informed."
Witness appeal
It is thought the family entered the water to swim before getting into difficulty. Anyone with information or video footage about the incident has been asked to contact Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting Operation North.
