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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jasmine Carey & Chiara Fiorillo

Body found washed up on beach at Brighton Pier following desperate search amid Storm Noa

A body has been found washed up on a beach following a search operation off Brighton Palace Pier during the heavy winds of Storm Noa, Sussex Police said.

Emergency services rushed to Brighton Beach shortly after 4pm yesterday to try and find a person reported to have been in the water.

The search lasted almost six hours yesterday and continued for two hours this morning, when a body was found at around 8.15am, Sussex Live reports.

Sussex Police said an investigation is ongoing and more details will be provided in due course.

The force said in a statement: "Emergency services investigated a report of a person in the sea off Brighton Palace Pier on Wednesday, April 12.

Storm Noa caused large waves in Brighton (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

"Searches were conducted by RNLI Lifeboats, volunteers, and the HM Coastguard helicopter, as well as by Coastguards and Sussex Police officers on shore.

"Sadly, a body was found on the beach at Saltdean at about 8.15am on Thursday, April 13.

"An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing, and further updates will be provided in due course."

HM Coastguard said: "Shortly after 4pm yesterday (12th April) 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.

Sussex Coastguard search teams looking into the sea in Brighton (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

"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 so assist.

"Further searches have been conducted from 6am this morning (13th April), in more favourable weather conditions.

"The search ended around 8am pending any further information."

It comes after a woman also died after being spotted in the water off Brighton beach on Tuesday.

Emergency services launched a search yesterday afternoon (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

Describing the previous incident, a Sussex Police spokesman said: "Emergency services conducted a search off Brighton beach shortly after 4pm on Tuesday April 11.

"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."

Storm Noa, a large Atlantic low-pressure system, strong winds, low temperatures and heavy rain or showers around the UK.

The Met Office issued weather warnings and said large waves were likely in coastal areas in south Wales and southern England.

Sussex Coastguard search teams looking into the sea in Brighton (Alamy Live News.)

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said yesterday: "Most places will see showers or longer spells of rain today but the impacts are most likely to come from strong winds.

"Gusts of 50-60 mph are possible quite widely in the southwest, with up to 75 mph in exposed coastal areas.

"Some disruption due to strong winds is expected in southern areas, particularly the south coast of Wales and southwest England.

"It will be a cool day with temperatures of 7 to 10 C in the west, with 11 to 13 C possible in the southeast, however it will feel colder in the strong winds."

Yesterday a woman was badly hurt when scaffolding fell on to a main shopping street, in Fareham, Hampshire.

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.

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