Agonising unanswered questions on Brighton beach deaths from CCTV mystery to tragic family tie
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. As police officers piece together the final moments of three young women found in the sea off Brighton Beach, the Mirror takes a look at the unanswered questions in a case that has left local residents ‘shaken’
Brighton has been shaken by the deaths of three young women, in what has been described as “an utterly heartbreaking tragedy”.
The three victims, believed to be aged between 20 and 30, were found in the water at Brighton Beach on the morning of Wednesday, May 13. Emergency crews rushed to the seafront following reports of concerns for a person in the water.
The trio were fully clothed when their bodies were recovered near Madeira Drive, to the east of the iconic Palace Pier. It is understood that the women died in the same tragedy, and that the Coast Guard has confirmed they are not searching for anyone else. While the search is over, the investigations continues as officers piece together the women’s final moments.
While Sussex Police believe they have identified the women, they stated that it would not yet be appropriate to reveal their names. Officers are currently working with loved ones to establish official identification.
Family tragedy
Tributes have poured in for the women, who are thought to have been related(Image: Getty Images)
Sadly, it’s believed these three victims are members of the same family. Their next of kin have been informed, and are being supported by specialist officers.
One relative, based in Jamaica, shared their grief online, stating: “My mum just called me to tell me the bodies of the three women that were found in Brighton Beach are my cousins. I am in complete shock because …… All three of the girls [at] one time.”
It’s believed the trio had been enjoying a night out when tragedy struck. While enquiries remain ongoing, police have said there is no evidence of criminality or third-party involvement.
Tributes and flowers have since been left at the scene. One message read: “I’m so, so sorry. This is such an awful loss, and I can’t begin to imagine how scared you felt, girls. My thoughts are with you, and I am devastated for your families and friends. I don’t know if you were local, but this has had a huge effect on us all. I hope you are at peace. You all had so much more to live for. I am so sorry.”
CCTV mystery
It’s believed the trio could have fallen off a steep coastal shelf while paddling(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
Detectives are scrutinising CCTV footage along the coastline to establish how the women ended up in peril. It is feared that, while paddling in the shallows, they group may have fallen off a coastal shelf – a submerged sloping edge of land that drops off abruptly into deep water.
The Brighton & Hove Seafront Team had previously issued a warning about steep shingle slopes forming near the Palace Pier. These slopes can shift during storms and tides, making them far more dangerous than they appear.
On such beaches, shingle can suddenly slide from under a person’s feet, and waves can rise with terrifying speed. Experts warn that a “strong backwash” can pull a person into deeper water, meaning while climbing back up the steep, shifting pebbles make it nearly impossible.
Meanwhile, one walker said, “It’s so tragic. The sea is very dangerous close to the Black Rock wall. It churns and foams up and is much choppier here than the rest of the beach. Most locals know the dangers, but if you are from out of town, then you might not know how treacherous it is.”
A coastguard source explained: “Many people don’t realise the danger. You don’t have to go far out at all before there’s a big drop-off, and you go from knee-high water to chest-high water.
“Swimmers can be pulled out of their depth very quickly from the backwash, and with pebbles shifting underfoot, it becomes difficult to maintain your balance, especially when you’re trying to climb back up the slope with waves crashing against you.”
Police plea for information
Police have urged members of the public to come forward with any additional information(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “This is an utterly heartbreaking tragedy, and my thoughts are with the loved ones of these three young women after their devastating loss. They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families and the wider public desperately seek.
“This is a sensitive investigation that includes a number of hypotheses, and it would not be appropriate to speculate as we continue to gather evidence. I would once again ask for the public’s patience while we establish the full facts, which will be shared publicly as soon as we are able. Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.”
Meanwhile, resident Eve Streeter said the whole city had been “shaken” by the disaster, adding: “The beach is a place of holiday and happiness, but every now and again, we’re reminded that it’s brutal and it’s dangerous. And we forget that at our peril.”
