Family of 4
A family of four have reportedly been pulled from the sea, in a frantic rescue operation this afternoon in Shoreham, West Sussex. At least two helicopters, eight road ambulances and lifeboat crews sped to the scene after reports came in of four people having got into difficulty in the water.
Two adults and two children were pulled from the water, with CPR being performed on three of them, reports The Sun. Their condition is not yet known.
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A young girl was spotted struggling in the waves, resulting in "mayhem" breaking out, a witness said. Local fishermen alerted police just before 3pm after seeing her in trouble. They then spotted a panicked young boy, a woman, and a man also struggling in the water, The Sun reports.
Gary and Victoria Flint, who are local parents, told The Sun that they were enjoying a day at the beach with their children when the horrifying incident happened.
"We arrived at about three, and soon after we heard the siren for the lifeboat," Victoria told the publication. "We watched it launch and then, about 20 mins later, it came back.
"Ambulances started arriving. More and more of them. Then the air ambulances started."
Local resident Pete Book said that he saw the coastguard helicopter circling the local lifeboat station on his way home from the pub. "As I neared home, a yellow air ambulance also landed," he said
"There were a lot of ambulances, coastguard and police vehicles converging on the area, and the coast road was closed. An orange-and-white air ambulance then landed.
"The lifeboat had also launched and was returning to the station – so I assume its crew had picked up the casualties."
"It was mayhem, there were so many emergency vehicles so you knew it was something serious," said another local.
One resident also told the Express: "I first heard the helicopters go past my home on the seafront. This was quickly followed by sirens, it is the most emergency services I have ever seen in my life.
"I saw Coastguard crews turn up, police, ambulance and critical incident units. Police were quick to cordon the road. There has been nothing like this happen on the beach before in the whole 25 years I have lived in the town. It's a safe beach with an RNLI station and a watch tower.
"Many people who were on the beach shared the same view as me - that we hope everyone involved will be okay. There are a lot of concerned local residents around the cordon watching it unfold."
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed it was called to reports of four people in need of medical attention near Shoreham Harbour. A spokesperson said: “We were called shortly after 3pm and have a number of ambulance resources at the scene.
"We have no further information to share at this time but will provide updates as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Sussex Police 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."