Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the water off Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex Police confirmed. A man, a woman, and a teenage girl were pronounced dead, while a younger girl from the same family remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Emergency services were alerted around 14:40 BST on Tuesday to reports of four people struggling in the sea close to Shoreham Port. The incident prompted a large-scale response from coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, air ambulances, police, and ambulance services.

According to Chief Superintendent James Collis, initial belief is that all four individuals entered the water from the shore for a swim and subsequently encountered trouble. He stated that coastguard operations have concluded an extensive search of the water, and no further individuals are being sought. Police are continuing their inquiries to establish the full circumstances.

The incident has had a significant impact on the local community. The Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex confirmed its helicopters and critical care teams were dispatched, while Shoreham RNLI’s lifeboat was also called to the scene. South East Coast Ambulance Service reported attending to four individuals requiring medical attention.

Witnesses described a substantial presence of emergency vehicles and helicopters converging on the seafront. Some residents noted that while the weather was warm, sea conditions were rough due to high winds, contributing to a significant emergency service turnout. The A259, a major road running through the area, was temporarily closed.

Tom Rutland, the Member of Parliament for East Worthing and Shoreham, initially advised the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to operate. Following the confirmation of the deaths, he expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and conveyed the community's hopes for the recovery of the young girl.

Shoreham Port confirmed it was cooperating with various agencies and also requested the public to stay clear of the vicinity. The profound effect on the local population was palpable, with residents describing the scene as "horrific" and "scary."

Investigations are ongoing to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the tragedy. The rough sea conditions, a factor mentioned by witnesses, may play a role in the ongoing inquiry.