Three dead after family get into difficulty in sea

Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the water off Shoreham-by-Sea.

Sussex Police said three people - a man, a woman, and a teenage girl - had died, while a younger girl from the same family was in hospital in a critical condition.

Emergency services were called shortly after 15:00 BST on Tuesday to reports of four people in difficulty in the sea close to Shoreham Port.

Witnesses described seeing large numbers of emergency vehicles and helicopters arriving at the seafront as coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, air ambulances, police officers and ambulance crews responded.

Ch Supt James Collis said relatives had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers.

"At this point, we believe all four entered the water from the land for a swim, and sadly got into difficulty," he said.

Coastguards have completed an extensive search of the water and are not searching for anyone else, he said.

He said the incident had had a profound effect on the local community.

Appealing for witnesses, he said inquiries were ongoing to understand the full details.

A spokesperson for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex said both of its helicopters and critical care team had been sent to the scene as part of the response, and Shoreham RNLI said its lifeboat had beencalled out at 15:00 BST.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it had been called to "reports of four people in need of medical attention".

A section of the A259 – a main commuter road which runs through Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing – was closed.

BBC reporter Callum French said despite warm weather, sea conditions had been "pretty rough" because of high winds, describing the response as " the biggest turnout [of emergency services] I have seen ".

Witnesses described seeing large numbers of emergency vehicles and helicopters arriving at the seafront.