19/08/2026
đ¨After yesterdayâs multi agency incident at Shoreham beach, Sussex Police have issued the following statement below.
If you see anyone in trouble along the coast or river , dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard đ¨
We are sorry to update that three people have sadly died after getting into difficulty in water near Shoreham Fort earlier this afternoon.
Chief Superintendent James Collis said: âAt around 2.40pm this afternoon, emergency services were called to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort.
âSussex Police officers supported His Majestyâs Coastguard and the RNLI, as all four people were brought ashore.
âTragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people - a man, woman and teenage girl - have sadly been confirmed deceased.
âA younger girl has been taken to hospital and is in a critical condition.
âWe can confirm all four people were members of the same family, and their next of kin have been informed.
âSpecialist officers are supporting them at this incredibly difficult time, and our thoughts are with their family and friends.
âI know this incident will have a profound effect on the community, and enquiries are ongoing alongside our partners to understand the full details.
âAt this point we believe all four entered the water from the land to swim and sadly got into difficulty.
âOur partners in His Majestyâs Coastguard have completed an extensive search of the water and we are not searching for anyone else.
âI would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding during the emergency response.
âAnyone with any information or video footage that could assist in our enquiries is asked to contact us online or via 101, quoting Operation North.â
We will provide further updates as soon as we are able.