Shoreham emergency live: Three family members dead after being pulled from sea

Shoreham emergency live: Three family members dead after being pulled from sea Three people from the same family have died after being pulled from the water in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex this afternoon - coastguard helicopters, ambulances and police raced to the scene earlier Three people from the same family - including a man, a woman and a teenage girl - have died after getting into trouble in water off Shoreham-by-Sea today. A younger girl from the same family is in a critical condition in hospital, Sussex Police said in an update this evening. Coastguard helicopters, ambulances and police were scrambled to the coastal town in West Sussex earlier today following reports that four people were in trouble in the water. The RNLI said lifeboat crews were launched from Shoreham at about 2.50pm on Tuesday afternoon. Two other lifeboats were also launched from the Brighton lifeboat station shortly after 3pm. Key Events Chief Superintendent James Collis said a man, a woman and a teenage girl died, while a younger girl from the same family is in a critical condition in hospital. He said: “Around 2,40 pm this afternoon, emergency services were called to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. “Sussex Police supported His Majesty’s Coast Guard and the RNLI as all four people were brought to shore. “Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people – a man, a woman, and a teenage girl – were sadly confirmed deceased. “A younger girl has been taken to hospital and is in critical condition. We can confirm all four people were from the same family, and their next of kin have been informed.” Chief Superintendent James Collis said all four people entered the water from land for a swim and got into difficulty. The coastguard is not searching for anyone else. A man, woman and a teenage girl have died after being pulled from the sea in Shoreham. A younger girl is in critical condition in hospital, police said this evening. Police confirmed all four people are from the same family. Police remain at the scene in Shoreham this evening. It follows a major emergency response after four people got into difficulty in the water. Sussex Police issued a statement saying emergency services were responding to reports of "four people in difficulty" - but it hasn't gone into further details about what happened. The statement read: "Emergency services are currently responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. "A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime. We will provide more information as soon as we are able to." Shelley Ayres, who lives opposite the beach, said: "We have never known this. I'm just hoping it's nothing tragic. "The sea has been very calm for months and months, but today it has got a lot rougher." Many emergency service vehicles have left the scene but the A259 remains closed by the incident. An AA alert states: "Road blocked and slow traffic due to emergency services incident on A259 Brighton Road both ways from New Road to Kingston Lane." A resident has described seeing a massive emergency response on a beach which they claimed was "safe". "I first heard the helicopters go past my home on the seafront. This was quickly followed by sirens, it is the most emergency services I have ever seen in my life," they told the Express. "I saw Coastguard crews turn up, police, ambulance and critical incident units. Police were quick to cordon the road. There has been nothing like this happen on the beach before in the whole 25 years I have lived in the town. It's a safe beach with an RNLI station and a watch tower. "Many people who were on the beach shared the same view as me - that we hope everyone involved will be okay. There are a lot of concerned local residents around the cordon watching it unfold." Tom Rutland, the Labour MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, says it is an "extremely worrying" incident. He wrote on X: "I am deeply concerned by the reports of a number of people getting into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Harbour this afternoon. "My thoughts are with everyone involved and their loved ones at what will undoubtedly be an extremely worrying time." Emergency services are responding to reports that four people are in difficulty in the water off the Sussex coast. Multiple ambulances and two air ambulances could be seen in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, near the RNLI station on Tuesday afternoon. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. “A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime “We will provide more information as soon as we are able to.” The A259 Brighton Road was blocked in both directions from New Road to Kingston Lane because of the incident. An RNLI spokesman said: “Shoreham RNLI were tasked by HM Coastguard at approximately 3pm on Tuesday 18 August.” At the scene an ambulance could be seen leaving under a police escort with blue lights flashing. Two helicopters and a critical care team were sent by the Air Ambulance Charity in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (AAKSS). A spokesperson added it was "part of the coordinated emergency response". The RNLI confirms that a Shoreham lifeboat was called into action by the Coastguard at around 3pm today. Online RNLI lifeboat records shows that a vessel was launched from Shoreham at 2.51pm. The RNLI spokesperson said: "Shoreham RNLI were tasked by HM Coastguard at approximately 3pm on Tuesday, August 18." South East Coast Ambulance Service says that it has responded to "reports of four people in need of medical attention" A spokesperson said the people are understood to have got "into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Harbour". They added: "We were called shortly after 15:00 BST and have a number of ambulance resources at the scene." Sussex Police is urging people to avoid Shoreham Fort with part of the A259 closed in an emergency operation. A statement reads: "A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime. "We will provide more information as soon as we are able to." A spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard responded to an incident reported at Shoreham at about 2.45pm on August 18. "An HM Coastguard helicopter was sent as well as Littlehampton, Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, and an RNLI lifeboat from Shoreham. "Sussex Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended." Sussex Police said: "Emergency services are currently responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. "A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing. We’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime. We will provide more information as soon as we are able to." A RNLI lifeboat was launched from Shoreham at 2.51pm although it is unclear what was the reason for this. Lifeboat records online show that there were launches also from Brighton at 3.08pm and 3.10pm today. An AA map shows that the A259 has been closed near the incident. At least seven South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) vehicles are on the scene at Kingston Beach off the A259. The AA alert states: "Road blocked and slow traffic due to emergency services incident on A259 Brighton Road both ways from New Road to Kingston Lane." A man has told how his daughter, who lives near the seafront in Shoreham, saw two helicopters landing at the port. He told The Argus that "a yellow helicopter landed by the lifeboat station" and it was followed by a red and white chopper. "There's loads of police, loads of ambulances, fire engines. A lot of sirens," he added. A massive emergency response is underway at Shoreham. There are multiple ambulances and police vehicles. While two air ambulances have landed by the port. A spokesperson from the RNLI says on its website that lifeboat crews were launched at about 2.50pm, though the exact nature of the incident remains unclear. Two other lifeboats were also launched from the Brighton lifeboat station shortly after 3pm.