Three women who died after being pulled from the sea off the coast of Brighton were related and visiting from London, according to reports.

The discovery was made near Brighton Marina after emergency services were called at around 5.45am yesterday (May 13) over concerns for the women’s welfare.

A major search and rescue operation was launched involving coastguard teams, RNLI lifeboats and two helicopters.

The bodies of the three women were later recovered from the water near Madeira Drive.

It is understood the women were aged between 20 and 30 years old.

Police believe all three women have now been identified and their next of kin have been informed.

Formal identification is still ongoing.

Officers say there is currently no evidence to suggest criminality or that anyone else was involved, while an investigation into how the women entered the water continues.

Coastguards believe the women may have got into difficulty after stepping off a shingle shelf which drops sharply into deep water.

Rough sea conditions were also reported along the coast.

According to the Daily Mail, a dental nurse living in Jamaica claimed on social media that the victims were her cousins.

She reportedly wrote: “My mum just called me to tell me the bodies of the three women that were found in Brighton Beach are my cousins.

“And I am in complete shock…… all 3 of the girls at one time.”

The newspaper also reported that another relative confirmed the women, who are believed to have travelled from London, were related.

Large emergency service cordons remained in place throughout Wednesday, with Black Rock car park and the nearby beach closed to the public.

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, of Sussex Police, said: “This is an utterly heartbreaking tragedy, and my thoughts are with the loved ones of these three young women after their devastating loss.

“They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families, and the wider public, desperately seek.”

He added that detectives are continuing to examine a “number of hypotheses” as enquiries continue.