Brighton and Hove City Council leader Councillor Bella Sankey has described the deaths of three young women off Madeira Drive on Wednesday morning as “absolutely tragic and horrific,” in the first formal response from the city’s political leadership to the worst loss of life on Brighton’s seafront in recent memory.
The women, understood to be aged between 20 and 30, were first spotted in the water near Brighton’s Palace Pier before drifting east toward the marina, where their bodies were recovered near Black Rocks car park in the early hours. Sussex Police have not yet formally identified the women, and the families of those involved are still being notified.
“My heart goes out to them”
Speaking to ITV Meridian on Wednesday afternoon, Councillor Sankey, who leads the Labour-majority council, said: “This is an absolutely tragic and horrific incident. I know that the people of Brighton and Hove will be thinking of these women today and my heart goes out to them and their loved ones. I know that it’s a very fast-moving situation, but I want to pay tribute to our emergency services colleagues who have been leading on this.”
Chris Ward, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, in whose constituency the deaths occurred, added: “It’s obviously a terrible incident and it will have a real impact on the local community. I just want to thank the emergency services, the Coastguard and RNLI, and everyone who was at the scene today.”
Siân Berry, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, called the news “unbearably sad.”
Beach safety in focus
While no formal review of Brighton seafront safety has yet been announced, the deaths have refocused longstanding local concerns about the eastern stretch of Madeira Drive — unlit between Black Rocks and the Palace Pier in the early hours, with limited lifeguarding cover outside the summer months. Calls for additional seafront measures, including dedicated overnight patrols and improved warning signage, have featured intermittently in council debates over the past five years.
Sussex Police Chief Superintendent Adam Hays has appealed for “patience” while the investigation continues and asked the public to “avoid speculation.” The beach reopened to the public shortly after 7pm on Wednesday.
Where to find support
If you have been affected by this story, support is available. The Samaritans can be contacted free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123. Brighton-based charity Grassroots Suicide Prevention offers training, resources and signposting locally.
Related Reading
- Three Young Women Recovered from Sea Off Brighton’s Madeira Drive
- Madeira Drive: A Guide to Brighton’s Historic Seafront
- Brighton Seafront Safety: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t
