Witness shares tragic detail after three members of same family die at UK beach

A witness who saw three members of the same family die after getting into trouble at a UK beach says one of the children had seemingly been caught in a fishing net.

Yesterday (18 August) afternoon, emergency services were called to a beach in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, after a family got into trouble shortly after entering the water for a swim.

It was later confirmed that both parents and their teenage daughter had died at the scene, while the younger daughter remained hospitalised in a critical condition.

"Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people – a man, a woman, and a teenage girl – were sadly confirmed deceased," Chief Superintendent James Collis said of the incident.

"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."

The incident happened on a beach in Shoreham-by-Sea (PA)

A couple and their teenage daughter have died after getting into difficulty in the water, while their younger child remains in critical condition (PA)

Witnesses have now spoken out about the chaos which unfolded at the beach, with one man saying that one of the local fishermen claimed that issues arose after one of the children became caught in a net.

"One of the local fishermen said it was two adults, two kids," witness Joe Chrisp told The Sun.

"One of the kids apparently got caught in a fishing net."

The landscaper went on to add that he'd witnessed the aftermath of the incident while on his way home from work, saying: "It happened when I was on my way back from work. There were loads of police, and I got turned around. It’s so tragic."

Meanwhile, another resident described the chaotic scenes at the beach, telling the outlet the nearby coastal road was closed due to emergency services arriving in the area.

"As I neared home, a yellow air ambulance also landed. There were a lot of ambulances, coastguard and police vehicles converging on the area, and the coast road was closed," resident Pete Book said.

"There were search and rescue vehicles, coastguard vehicles, and police vehicles. And then over on the other side of the river, there were loads of ambulances gathered around, and the RNLI were still working essentially," a third witness told ITV.

An investigation is underway (PA)

"I was up near the coastguard tower when I saw two police officers come past me holding evidence bags after they looked to be going through belongings of, presumably, those who were involved in the incident."

A report from the BBC added that tributes have begun to be laid at the scene, as the mood in the seaside town remains 'sombre' in response to the news.

Local MP Tom Rutland has also reacted to the news, writing on Facebook that he is 'deeply saddened' by the news.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives," he wrote.

"I know the whole community here in Shoreham will be hoping and praying for the recovery of the young girl receiving medical treatment in hospital."

An investigation into the deaths is now underway, with anyone who has information or video footage about the incident to contact Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting Operation North.