Tragedy as woman in her 20s dies in the sea off Brighton (2025)

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A woman who was spotted in the sea off the coast of Brighton early this morning has died, police say.

Emergency services were called to an area near the city's iconic Brighton Palace Pier at around 3am following reports of a woman in the sea.

Lifeboat crews from Brighton and Shoreham RNLI were deployed alongside Coastguard rescue crews from nearby Shoreham and Newhaven.

A Coastguard helicopter also assisted with the search. Flight data showed it flew in from Portsmouth to assist with the search at 3am, performing a number of flyovers of the water until around 5.30am.

Police later confirmed that a woman in her 20s, from Lewes, was taken to hospital but pronounced dead.

The intense operation involved several police units and ambulance crews, who stood by on land ready to assist with the maritime search.

Images showed the helicopter flying close to the surface, close to the city's charred West Pier, as RNLI lifeboats combed the water.

A spokesperson for the South East Coast Ambulance Service told MailOnline crews were called in at 3.40am after receiving reports of a person in need of medical attention.

The patient was assessed as being in 'very serious condition', treated and then taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital, they added.

Sussex Police said in a statement:'Police were called following concerns for a woman in the sea off the coast of Brighton just before 3am on Wednesday, April 16.

'Emergency services responded to the scene and the woman, in her 20s and from Lewes, was taken to hospital where she was sadly pronounced deceased.

'Her next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

'There are no suspicious circumstances and this will now be a matter for the coroner.'

Brighton Coastguard said in a public statement: 'In the early hours of this morning, our volunteer crew launched in response to reports of a person in the water near Brighton Palace Pier.

'Working alongside lifeboats from Shoreham RNLI, Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, a coastguard helicopter, and other emergency services, a search was carried out.

'Sadly, a woman in her 20s was later confirmed to have died. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

'Thank you to everyone involved in the response.'

BBC

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