A couple and their teenage daughter have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off the West Sussex coast, police said on Tuesday.
A man, a woman and a teenage girl died after the incident in Shoreham-by-Sea, the chief superintendent of Sussex police, James Collis, said.
A younger girl from the same family was taken to hospital in a critical condition, Collis added. The next of kin have been informed.
Collis said it is understood that all four entered the water from land for a swim and “sadly got into difficulty”.
He added: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family. I know this incident will have a profound effect on the community.”
Emergency services, including land and air ambulances, were called at about ۲.۴۰pm to reports of four people in difficulty in the sea. All four were brought to shore.
The coastguard is not searching for anyone else.
Anyone with information or with video footage has been asked to contact Sussex police.
