Beach Hor-ror: Three From Same Family D-i-e As Another Survivor Battles For Life
THREE members of the same family have died and a fourth has been left fighting for her life after being swept out to sea at a beach in Shoreham.
Eyewitnesses claim one of the children got tangled in a fishing net while swimming, sparking yesterday’s tragedy on the West Sussex coast.
Four people were pulled from the water in Shoreham yesterdayCredit: BBC/UNPIXS
A huge emergency team descended on the beachCredit: Refer to source
Police rushed to the scene alongside ambulances and coastguards
A teenage girl and her two parents died after getting into difficulty in the water, while a younger daughter remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The family were pulled from the sea by lifeboat crews and received CPR from medical teams amid a major emergency response on the beach.
Witnesses told how local fishermen alerted police to Britain’s latest water tragedy after seeing a young girl in trouble shortly before 3pm.
Joe Chrisp, 24, said: “One of the local fishermen said it was two adults, two kids.
Ambulances lined up alongside the beachfrontCredit: BBC/UNPIXS
Four members of the same family were pulled from the waterCredit: Refer to source
“One of the kids apparently got caught in a fishing net.”
Witnesses also described seeing “mayhem” unfold as the massive emergency services team swooped on the seafront.
Chief Supt James Collis said all four entered the water together for a swim before getting into difficulty.
Speaking from the beach last night, he said: “Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people, a man, a woman, and a teenage girl, were sadly confirmed deceased.
A huge emergency services team rushed to the scene in Shoreham, West SussexCredit: Refer to source
Two helicopters were spotted at the sceneCredit: Refer to source
“We can confirm, all four people were from the same family, and their next of kin had been informed.”
He added: “At this point, we believe all four entered the water from the land for a swim, and sadly, got into difficulty.”
Police are not searching for anyone else, but an investigation has been launched to understand the full circumstances of the tragedy.
They also said the weather was very windy, and that the sea appeared to be choppy.
They then saw another panicked young girl, a woman and a man also fighting against the waves.
Two helicopters, eight ambulances, lifeboat crews and the coastguard rushed to the scene shortly after the alarm was raised.
Horrified families watched on from the shoreline as a huge rescue operation swung into action.
Victoria Flint, of nearby Horsham, was there with husband Gary and their children.
She said: “We arrived at about three and soon after we heard the siren for the lifeboat.
“We watched it launch and then, about 20 minutes later, it came back. Ambulances started arriving.
“More and more of them. Then the air ambulances started.”
Resident Pete Book said: “As I neared home, a yellow air ambulance also landed.
“There were a lot of ambulances, coastguard and police vehicles converging on the area, and the coast road was closed.”
Landscaper Mr Chrisp, 24, added: “It happened when I was on my way back from work. There were loads of police and I got turned around. It’s so tragic.”
One local, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s the first time in my 30 years living here that I’ve seen a police car drive onto the pebbles.
“It was mayhem, there were so many emergency vehicles so you knew it was something serious.”
Steve Chapman, who lives opposite the beach, said: “There were all sorts of rumours flying around, it was very upsetting.”
Shirley Pumfrey, who lives near the harbour mouth, said: “The whole road was just full of emergency services. It was horrific and quite scary to see that many.”
The RNLI said it had launched rescue boats from Shoreham Harbour at 2.51pm.
Two more followed from Brighton shortly after 3pm. A coastguard helicopter joined the search at 2.45pm along with three more rescue teams.
Aerial images showed the lifeboat returning as two air ambulances and scores of paramedics waited at the station.
Sussex Police previously said following the dramatic ordeal: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort.
“A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime.”
Yesterday’s horror is the latest in a recent spate of water tragedies across the country.
It comes just weeks after a seven-year-old boy drowned alongside his teenage cousin and her mum at the beach on a family holiday.
Musa Ahmed, seven, died in hospital six days after getting into difficulty in the water in West Mersea, Essex, on July 22.
His cousin Sameeha Rahman, 15, and her mother Shelina Rahman, 41, also died in the horror.
And just yesterday, the body of a 12-year-old boy was sadly pulled from a river following a search by divers.
Emergency crews were called to reports of a person in the water near Hackney Marshes, East London, shortly after 6pm on Saturday.
