Three sisters who drowned off Brighton beach died by suicide, inquests finds
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The bodies of three sisters who were pulled from the sea in Brighton had taken their own lives, an inquest has heard.
Sussex Police identified the women as sisters Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, after their bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive on 13 May.
An inquest has heard how the day before, they had visited the lake where their mother had died in Birmingham years earlier.
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The body of Janice Adetoro, the mother of the three victims, was recovered from a lake in 2010.
They arrived at Linton Walk, Birmingham, near to Brookvale Park Lake, at 11.36pm on May 11 and were picked up to return to the flat they lived in together in Greenford, west London, at 1.28am on May 12.
On the evening of May 12, they took a pre-booked taxi to Brighton and arrived near the seafront at 10.21pm. They are thought to have last been seen alive on CCTV from the beach at 2.42am on May 13.
Sussex Police said there was no evidence to suggest criminality or that anyone else was involved.
After the incident, detectives said they were working to gather the full facts and circumstances around their deaths, with hundreds of hours of CCTV footage being reviewed and inquiries made to establishments around the beach area.
Ms Adetoro had been brought to shore by an RNLI crew and declared dead at the scene on the morning of May 13, the inquest was told.
Christina Walters was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat, and Rebecca Walters was washed on to the shore of Brighton beach.
They were also pronounced dead that morning by paramedics, as the entire beach was closed off by emergency crews for investigations to take place.
Sussex Police previously said there was 'no evidence' the women came to harm by any individuals.
"Based on all of the evidence currently available, our investigation has concluded that all three entered the water near to where their bodies were found, and sadly died," a statement read.
Their father Joseph earlier this year issued a heartbreaking tribute in which he said their 'lives ended tragically far too soon' and that they would be 'forever loved, forever missed and forever remembered'.
Concluding the inquest into their deaths, senior coroner Penelope Schofield told the court on Thursday (8 October): “On May 13, in hours of darkness, they entered the sea at Brighton, they could not swim and sea conditions were adverse.”
She concluded the medical cause of death for all three women was drowning and that they died by suicide.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, of Sussex Police previously said: “Our priority throughout has been uncovering the truth for the loved ones of Jane, Rebecca and Christina, because at this incident’s core there has always been a grieving family coming to terms with an unthinkable tragedy and loss.
“Jane, Rebecca and Christina’s tragic deaths sparked a national outpouring of grief, and I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigation by coming forward with information."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: UK News
James Holt