Brighton beach LIVE: 3 women found dead in sea as police quash key theory about tragedy

Emergency services swarmed Brighton Beach this morning after three

Brighton beach: Police and rescue teams remain on scene

Police have provided a major update after three women were found dead in the sea at Brighton Beach. RNLI boats were spotted in the water, and police were called over concerns for the welfare of a person in the sea off Brighton at around 5.45am today. Rescue teams then discovered the bodies of three women.

Earlier, shop owners along the seafront believed the women had been enjoying a student night at a nightclub. Quarters, on the beach esplanade, runs a weekly student event called CU Next Tuesday which finishes at 4am. However, the Daily Express understands that theory has been dismissed by police. In a new update, Sussex Police said it is continuing to investigate the tragic discovery of the bodies of three women in the sea, and are “working hard to follow up a number of lines of enquiry to identify the three women and understand exactly what has happened”. Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “I understand the impact this tragic incident has had on the local community and more widely. This is a sensitive investigation and we know the public are keen to understand the full circumstances. But our priority at this time is identifying these three women and locating their families, who at this point remain unaware they have lost loved ones. I would ask for people’s patience while we conduct these enquiries and to avoid speculation while this is ongoing.”

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Emergency services have been called to the scene. (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)

Latest from police as investigations enter second day

Sussex Police Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said in an update on Wednesday evening: “I understand the impact this tragic incident has had on the local community and more widely.

“This is a sensitive investigation and we know the public are keen to understand the full circumstances. But our priority at this time is identifying these three women and locating their families, who at this point remain unaware they have lost loved ones.

“I would ask for people’s patience while we conduct these enquiries and to avoid speculation while this is ongoing.”

(Image: Getty)

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8 hours ago05:35 Peter Hennessy

What we know so far about three women involved

The identities of the three women has not yet been disclosed as police continue to investigate the incident.

It is understood that the women were approximately 20 to 30 years old.

The police have said they are still working hard to identify the three women and understand exactly what happened.

It is understood that contrary to some reports, the three women are currently not thought to have attended Quarters nightclub off Kings Road prior to entering the water.

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9 hours ago04:01 Peter Hennessy

‘My heart goes out to the friends and families of these women’

The leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, said her heart went out to the women’s families.

In a statement, she said: “I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of three women off the Brighton coast this morning.

“My heart goes out to the friends and family of these women, and on behalf of Brighton and Hove I send sincere condolences.

“I would also like to thank the emergency services for their quick response and combined efforts; it is heartbreaking that their recovery efforts have ended in such tragic circumstances.”

(Image: Getty)

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11 hours ago01:59 Rachel VickersPrice

Stunned locals express horror after three women found dead at beach

Locals have expressed shock and sadness in the wake of the tragic discovery of the bodies of three women in the water at Brighton beach in the early hours of Wednesday (May 13) morning.

One local, who had been feeding birds near the scene at around 6am, told The Sun: “It was extremely windy, cold and choppy in the water. I’m not sure why anyone would have been in the sea. What’s happened is awful.”

A second person said: “It’s absolutely tragic. I heard they were found close to the shore and pulled out, but nothing could be done to save them. There were loads of ambulances and police here from very early.”

They added: “It is very, very windy and there is a strong current that pushes people east from the pier.”

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13 hours ago00:21 Rachel VickersPrice

Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle speaks on Brighton beach tragedy

Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle has spoken out about Wednesday’s tragic news out of Brighton after the bodies of three women were recovered from the sea.

“[Today’s news] was a sobering and heartbreaking reminder that our families, neighbours and communities are what is important,” he said, as per the Brighton and Hove News.

“I am desperately upset for the families and friends of these women.“At these tragic times I also think about the coastguard and the police. So I’ve also written a letter of thanks to them – their courage and bravery is to be so admired.”

He then recalled another tragedy at sea in recent years.“In 2021, a wonderful man, Gareth Jones, drown off the Hove coast and his son (Rob) continues to this day to campaign around water safety with the National Water Safety Forum,” he said.

“I hope one day he can achieve 100 per cent success.”

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15 hours ago21:37 Lauran O’Toole

Three women recovered off Brighton beach not believed to have attended nightclub

Three women whose bodies were recovered in the sea off Brighton beach are not believed to have attended a nightclub prior to entering the water, the Press Association understands.

It is believed the women may have entered the water from the beach near to where they were found, before getting into difficulty in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

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16 hours ago21:09 Lauran O’Toole

Bodies of three women yet to be identified

Police are still working to identify the bodies of the three women found dead at Brighton beach earlier today.

“We are working hard to follow up a number of lines of enquiry to identify the three women and understand exactly what has happened,” Sussex Police said in an update on Wednesday evening.

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17 hours ago20:16 Lauran O’Toole

Seas were rough in Brighton this morning

The BBC reports that the seas off the coast of Brighton this morning were really rough with strong winds driving waves to crash against the shoreline.

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17 hours ago19:44 Lauran O’Toole

‘Avoid speculation while this is ongoing’

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “I understand the impact this tragic incident has had on the local community and more widely. This is a sensitive investigation and we know the public are keen to understand the full circumstances.

“But our priority at this time is identifying these three women and locating their families, who at this point remain unaware they have lost loved ones. I would ask for people’s patience while we conduct these enquiries and to avoid speculation while this is ongoing.

“Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.”

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18 hours ago19:04 Lauran O’Toole

Beach re-opens, confirms police

Sussex Police says inquiries are ongoing after three bodies were discovered in the sea off Brighton beach this morning and the beach has now re-opened.

“The beach has now reopened and our officers have left the scene, following a significant operation which began at 5.45am,” the force said.

“Emergency services were first called to concern for a single person in the water near Black Rocks car park in Madeira Drive. On arrival, two more bodies were sadly recovered from the sea nearby,” the statemenrt adds.

The beach has now re-opened (Image: Anahita Hossein-Pour/PA Media)

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18 hours ago18:52 Lauran O’Toole

Reports suggest women who drowned were around 20 to 30 years old

The three women who drowned at sea in Brighton were around 20 to 30 years old, according to ITV News.

The trio were reportedly first spotted at Brighton’s Palace Pier before drifting to the marina.

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18 hours ago18:42 Lauran O’Toole

Sussex Police issue update

Sussex Police has released the following update:

Sussex Police is continuing to investigate the tragic discovery of the bodies of three women in the sea off Brighton beach this morning (13 May).

The beach has now reopened and our officers have left the scene, following a significant operation which began at 5.45am.

Emergency services were first called to concern for a single person in the water near Black Rocks car park in Madeira Drive. On arrival, two more bodies were sadly recovered from the sea nearby.

We are working hard to follow up a number of lines of enquiry to identify the three women and understand exactly what has happened.

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “I understand the impact this tragic incident has had on the local community and more widely.

“This is a sensitive investigation and we know the public are keen to understand the full circumstances. But our priority at this time is identifying these three women and locating their families, who at this point remain unaware they have lost loved ones.

“I would ask for people’s patience while we conduct these enquiries and to avoid speculation while this is ongoing.

“Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.”

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18 hours ago18:37 Lauran O’Toole

In pictures: A day of tragedy along the Brighton seafront

Here are some images from throughout the day at Brighton seafront, following the discovery of three women’s bodies at sea.

Emergency services at the scene on Madeira Drive, Brighton (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Media)

The bodies of three women were recovered from the sea in Brighton early today, Sussex Police said (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Media)

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19 hours ago18:24 Lauran O’Toole

MP calls incident ‘deeply tragic’

Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven Chris Ward said it was “deeply tragic news and understandably very concerning for our community and everyone affected”.He added: “I would like to thank our emergency services for their swift response and the difficult work they continue to carry out at the scene.”

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19 hours ago18:19 Lauran O’Toole

Police officers searching along Brighton beach

Here are some images of police officers searching along Brighton beach earlier today.

Police have confirmed the bodies of three females have been found today.

Police officers searching along Brighton beach (Image: Getty)

Police have confirmed the bodies of three females have been found today (Image: Getty)

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19 hours ago18:13 Lauran O’Toole

Brighton Festival event cancelled

A festival event in Brighton has been cancelled following the death of the three young women.

The Brighton Festival has confirmed that tonight’s performance of Carnation at the Big Top, near the police cordon, has been cancelled.

Those who have tickets will be contacted.

A spokeswoman for the festival said: “We are deeply saddened to hear today’s news and our thoughts are with the individuals and their families.

“Tonight’s performance of carnation has been cancelled. We will be in touch with affected bookers shortly.”

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19 hours ago18:09 Lauran O’Toole

The scene this morning

Police and coastguard officials were stationed along the seafront and on the shingle beach during the morning, where a lifeboat could be seen out at sea and a helicopter was flying overhead.

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19 hours ago17:58 Lauran O’Toole

Coastguard completing an ‘extensive search of the water’

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays told reporters the coastguard is completing an “extensive search of the water”, but the force is not searching for anyone else.

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19 hours ago17:46 Lauran O’Toole

CCTV inquiries are being carried out

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays told reporters that CCTV inquiries are being carried out.

CCTV inquiries are being carried out (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Media)

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20 hours ago17:20 Lauran O’Toole

Where is the beach closed from?

The beach will remain closed east of Volks Railway Black Rock car park for at least the rest of the afternoon, police said.

The beach will remain closed for the rest of the afternoon (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Media)