A body has been found washed up on a beach after an extensive search operation around Brighton Palace pier during heavy winds.
The search began just before 4pm on Wednesday after reports that a person had been swept into the sea as Storm Noa lashed the south coast.
A six-hour search involving RNLI lifeboats, volunteers, coastguards – including two helicopter crews – and Sussex police was suspended in fading light on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, Sussex police said a body had been found on a beach.
The force said: “Sadly, a body was found on the beach at Saltdean at about 8.15am on Thursday. An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing, and further updates will be provided in due course.”
The coastguard said in a statement: “Shortly after 4pm yesterday HM Coastguard received reports of a person in the water at Doughnut Groyne close to Brighton pier. An extensive search of the area took place throughout the evening until 9pm in challenging conditions.
“The Newhaven, Littlehampton and Shoreham coastguard rescue teams, alongside Shoreham and Newhaven RNLI all-weather lifeboats, Sussex police and the coastguard helicopters from Lee-on-Solent and Lydd were sent to assist.”
It said searches resumed at 6am on Thursday “in more favourable weather conditions” and ended two hours later.
On Tuesday a woman also died after being spotted in the water off Brighton beach. Describing this incident, a statement from Sussex police said: “Emergency services conducted a search off Brighton beach shortly after 4pm on Tuesday. Sadly, the body of a woman was found. Her next of kin have been informed. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for HM coroner.”
In Fareham, Hampshire, a woman was seriously injured on Wednesday when scaffolding fell on to a main shopping street.
And at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, customers on the Big One rollercoaster had to be escorted down after the ride was stopped because of the adverse weather.
