The bodies of three young women have been recovered from the sea off the coast of Brighton, prompting a police investigation into how they entered the water.
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Sussex Police said officers launched a search early on Wednesday after receiving a report of a person in the sea at about 05:45 BST. Emergency services were called to the area near Black Rock Beach, close to the Black Rocks car park on Madeira Drive along the seafront.
When teams arrived at the scene, they recovered three bodies from the water nearby. Authorities later confirmed that the coastguard had ended its search and was not looking for any other people.
Police said the women have not yet been formally identified and inquiries are still at an early stage.
Early stages of investigation
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays described the incident as “tragic” and said investigators were focusing on identifying the victims and locating their families.
“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,” he said.
Hays urged the public to avoid speculation while officers gather information and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Anyone with information has been asked to contact police.
It is not yet clear how the women came to be in the sea.
Sightings and possible lines of inquiry
According to a report by the PA Media news agency, the women were believed to be aged between about 20 and 30. They were reportedly first spotted near Brighton Palace Pier before drifting toward Brighton Marina.
Investigators are exploring several possible scenarios, including the possibility that the women entered the sea from the beach near where they were discovered and later got into difficulty.
A large cordon was initially put in place around the beach at Black Rock while emergency crews responded to the incident. The area has since reopened.
By Wednesday afternoon most emergency services had left the scene, with police departing later that evening.
Community reaction
News of the discovery prompted shock among residents and visitors in the seaside city.
Local sea swimmer Jilly Francis said the conditions on Wednesday were rough and not typical for recreational swimming.
“I live very close by and this is the worst I think I’ve heard of anything happening,” she said, adding that she would normally avoid swimming in such conditions.
Another resident, Pam Hinchliffe, described the incident as tragic and said people were struggling to understand how it had happened so early in the morning.
Several local political figures also expressed condolences.
Chris Ward, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said the incident was deeply concerning for the community.
Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said she was “shocked and deeply saddened”, adding that her thoughts were with the women’s families and friends.
Sian Berry, MP for Brighton Pavilion, described the news as “unbearably sad”, while Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said his thoughts were with those affected by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Katy Bourne, the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, called the incident “awful” and also urged the public to allow investigators time to establish the facts.
Ongoing inquiries
Police say the investigation remains ongoing and that establishing the identities of the women is a key priority.
Officers have appealed for patience while inquiries continue and have repeated calls for anyone with information to come forward.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 14 May 2026
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