Shoreham Community In Mourning After Three Family Members Die At Sea

(c) Sky News

Shoreham-by-Sea is in mourning after three members of the same family died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Kingston Beach.

A fourth family member, a young girl, remains in critical condition in hospital.

Sussex Police says all four are believed to have entered the water from the land to swim.

An extensive search was carried out by HM Coastguard, but officers say they're not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Tributes have been paid to the family, while flowers have been left along the seafront.

Local councillor Joss Loader, chairwoman of the Shoreham Beach Residents' Association, praised the emergency response, describing it as 'phenomenal'.

Adur District Council leader Jeremy Gardener also thanked the RNLI, coastguard, police, ambulance crews and air ambulance teams involved.

The Good Shepherd church on Shoreham Beach is open today as a quiet space for people affected by the tragedy, while Shoreham RNLI's station and shop are closed to visitors for the day but remain operational for emergencies.

The tragedy has also prompted renewed warnings about the dangers of open-water swimming, with the cold water and changing conditions posing risks even during warm weather.