Three people from same family die off Sussex coast
Traveloasisspot.com – Three people from same family were confirmed dead after a swim near Shoreham Fort turned fatal on Tuesday afternoon. A man, a woman, and their teenage daughter were pulled from the water off West Sussex’s Shoreham-by-Sea coastline and pronounced deceased at the scene. Their younger sister, also from the household, was rushed to hospital and remains in critical condition.
Calls reached emergency services at approximately 2.40 pm reporting four people in serious difficulty in the sea close to the historic fort. Witnesses described an extraordinary mobilisation: several ground ambulances converged on the beach, two air ambulances circled overhead, and specialist rescue crews worked to extract the family members from the choppy water.
Multi-Agency Rescue at Shoreham Fort
Sussex Police coordinated the response in concert with His Majesty’s Coast Guard and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Teams were dispatched from Littlehampton, Shoreham, and Newhaven stations, while the RNLI lifeboat based at Shoreham launched into the surf. An HM Coastguard helicopter provided aerial support, giving the operation both surface and air capability.
All four individuals were eventually brought to shore. Despite sustained efforts by paramedics and rescue personnel working under extreme time pressure, three — the man, the woman, and the teenage girl — were confirmed deceased on the beach. The younger girl was transported to hospital, where her condition is listed as critical.
Police indicated the family had entered the water from land for a swim before conditions escalated into a life-threatening emergency. The stretch of coastline around Shoreham Fort is known for tidal currents, sandbanks, and shifting seabed topography that can create sudden hazards even for confident swimmers, particularly during the summer months when beachgoers are most numerous.
Police Statement and Aftermath
Chief Superintendent James Collis addressed reporters at the scene and confirmed that all four victims were members of one family:
“Around 2.40 pm this afternoon, we were called to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. Sussex Police supported His Majesty’s Coast Guard and the RNLI as all four people were brought to shore. Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people – a man, a woman, and a teenage girl – were sadly confirmed deceased. A younger girl has been taken to hospital and is in critical condition. We can confirm all four people were from the same family, and their next of kin have been informed.”
Specialist officers from the force’s family liaison unit were assigned to support the bereaved relatives immediately after the incident. Collis confirmed that next of kin had been notified of both the deaths and the younger girl’s condition.
The scale of the emergency response brought a section of the A259 Brighton Road to a standstill. Both directions of the carriageway were closed between New Road and Kingston Lane while rescue operations continued and investigators worked the shoreline. Local commuters faced significant delays as the corridor linking Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton was effectively sealed off during the peak afternoon period.
Sussex Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or who may hold video footage to come forward. Information can be submitted online through the force’s website or by dialling 101, quoting Operation North — the internal designation assigned to the investigation.
Swimming Hazards Along the Sussex Coast
The area around Shoreham Fort and the adjacent beaches has long been monitored by the RNLI and HM Coast Guard for seasonal risks. Tidal ranges in the English Channel can shift rapidly, and the coastline near Shoreham features exposed shingle, submerged obstructions, and strong lateral currents capable of sweeping swimmers away from their intended path within minutes. The RNLI Shoreham lifeboat station, positioned close to the scene, responds to calls throughout the year, with activity peaking during the summer bathing season.
Authorities routinely advise beachgoers to swim only between flagged areas, check tide tables before entering the water, and avoid swimming alone or after consuming alcohol. The concentration of rescue assets at this single incident — ground ambulances, two air ambulances, a helicopter, a lifeboat, and teams from three separate stations — underscores how quickly a routine swim can escalate into a multi-agency emergency when conditions turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the incident take place? Close to Shoreham Fort, on the coastline at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, near the A259 Brighton Road.
How many people were involved, and what were their conditions? Four members of one family entered the water. Three — a man, a woman, and a teenage girl — died at the scene. A younger girl was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Which agencies responded? Sussex Police, His Majesty’s Coast Guard, the RNLI (Shoreham, Littlehampton, and Newhaven stations), ground ambulance crews, two air ambulances, and an HM Coastguard helicopter.
How can witnesses get in touch? Contact Sussex Police online via the force website or by dialling 101 and quoting Operation North.
What safety advice do authorities give for swimming in this area? Swim only between flagged areas, check tide tables beforehand, never swim alone, and avoid alcohol before entering the water. Be especially cautious during tidal shifts when currents can change direction and strength within minutes.
