Three ladies discovered lifeless off Brighton seaside had been ‘all associated and visiting’
The bodies of the three women were found in Brighton on Wednesday morning. Emergency services had been called to the scene to reports of a woman seen struggling in the sea
The tragedy unfolded in Brighton(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
Three women found dead off the beach in Brighton were all related and are believed to have been visiting the area, according to reports. They are believed to be aged in their late teens to early 20s.
The women were wiped out in the tragedy early on Wednesday morning after the emergency services received reports of concerns for a woman in the sea.
Writing on X, a relative, understood to be based in Jamaica, said: “My mum just called me to tell me the bodies of the three women that were found in Brighton Beach are my cousins. I am in complete shock because …… All 3 of the girls one time.”
Asked “Are they all from Jamaica?”, the relative replied: “No they are not”. According to the Daily Mail, the three women are believed to be from London.
The women were understood to have been enjoying a night out before the tragedy and were reportedly fully clothed when found. Emergency crews raced to the beach accompanied by a helicopter and lifeboats at around 5.45am on Wednesday before their bodies were recovered from the water near Madeira Drive.
Officers are still trawling through CCTV footage from cameras along the coast in an attempt to work out what led to the disaster. There are fears that the women could have been swept away from shore after paddling out to sea before falling off a coastal shelf.
Locals said the seabed falls away dramatically not far from the beach. They said that the shingle shelf can make paddling too far out dangerous. Investigators are believed to be looking at the possibility the three women lost their footing when the shingle dropped away underfoot.
Police have said they believe the know the identities of the three women and are now working with their loved ones to formally identify them. A spokesperson said: “It would not be appropriate to publicly name the women before these procedures are completed. Their loved ones are being supported by specialist officers following their tragic loss.”
The spokesperson added: “An investigation is ongoing to understand how all three women came to be in the water. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.”
Locals, who did not know the girls, began leaving floral tributes close to the spot where they were found. Eve Streeter, who lives nearby, said the whole city had been “shaken” by the news.
She said: “It’s such upsetting news. It shocks the whole city, it’s a tragedy that belongs to the city. This is our water. I’ve had people from London messaging me about it, saying ‘god, what news. It must be shocking for the whole city.’ And it properly is. It’s horrible.
“The beach is a place of holiday and happiness, but every now and again we’re reminded that it’s brutal and it’s dangerous. And we forget that at our peril.”
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. They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families, and the wider public, desperately seek.
“This is a sensitive investigation that includes a number of hypotheses, and it would not be appropriate to speculate as we to continue to gather evidence. I would once again ask for the public’s patience while we establish the full facts, which will be shared publicly as soon as we are able. Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.”
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