Brighton seaside victims ‘caught by hidden dip within the sea whereas paddling after evening out’
Details of the Brighton beach tragedy are beginning to emerge with coast guard sources indicating at least one woman went out for a late-night paddle and was shocked by a sudden sea floor drop
Three women were recovered (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
The three women tragically found dead in the sea near Brighton beach were caught out by a hidden drop in the ocean. Sources believe the women were “suddenly dragged into danger after misjudging the shingle shelf.”
The three women, thought to be believed in their 20s, went for a paddle and misjudged the depth of the water. Brighton’s pebbled beach is notoriously dangerous for swimmers due its steep slopes under the water line.
A Coastguard source told The Sun: “It’s feared at least one of the women went into the water for a paddle and was then suddenly dragged into danger after misjudging the shingle shelf.
“If you took one pace out thinking it’s flat you could go down two feet or more very quickly. That can turn things very dangerous very quickly.”
Emergency services descended on the coastline near the Marina following a frantic 5.45am call reporting a woman in distress in the water. However, the scale of the horror soon grew as search teams discovered two more women had also entered the sea.
The alarm was raised at the break of dawn, sparking a massive search and rescue operation along the seafront. Despite the rapid response from paramedics and police, all three women were tragically confirmed dead at the scene.
Conditions at the time were described as challenging, with the water temperature hovering around 12°C. Detectives are currently piecing together the final movements of the trio, saying they have “a number of hypotheses” about how they died.
Several clues left on the shingle have led investigators to believe the women may have entered the water voluntarily before being overwhelmed by the elements. Handbags and coats were reportedly found left on the beach, suggesting the group may have stripped off their outer layers before heading into the waves.
Locals suggest the women were wearing “going-out clothes,” sparking theories that a night of celebration ended in a nightmare. There is some confusion over they went to a nightclub before they died. There were reports they’d be to Quarters for a special night, before fresh information said they had not.
Billed as David Attenborough’s 100th birthday bash, the event was said to have been “packed out” with many student spilling out onto the beach.
While the popular beachfront clubs are situated about 1.5 miles west of the discovery site, the Marina area itself is home to various bars and residential flats.
The community has been left reeling by the loss, with witnesses describing a chaotic scene as sirens filled the air.
