LIVE: Update after four people pulled from water off Sussex coast
Four people have got into difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort. ITV Meridian understands two adults and two children were pulled from the water earlier.
Nearby fishermen say they alerted the emergency services, after they saw a young girl in the water shortly before 3pm today (Tuesday 18 August). They then saw a young boy, a woman and a man.
Two air ambulances, several ambulances, police and the coastguard were all called to the area.
The condition of the four people, thought to be members of the same family, is not yet known.
An eyewitness in the area at the time told ITV Meridian he saw police officers working near the coastguard tower. He said: “There were search and rescue vehicles, Coastguard vehicles, and police vehicles. And then over on the other side of the river, there was loads of ambulances gathered around, and the RNLI were still working essentially.
“I was up near the Coastguard tower when I saw two police officers come past me holding evidence bags after they looked to be going through belongings of, presumably, those who were involved in the incident.
“The evidence bags did contain what appeared to be younger child’s clothing and other assorted items, and from that, I presume children were involved.”
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort.
“A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime.
“We will provide more information as soon as we are able to.”
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