Inquest opens for three sisters who died in sea

An inquest has opened into the deaths of three sisters in the sea off Brighton beach, with the coroner saying she hopes it will "stop social media speculation" over the tragedy.

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, who were all living together in Greenford, London, died on 13 May.

At the inquest at Brighton & Hove Coroner's Court on Friday, senior coroner Penelope Schofield offered her condolences to their father Joseph Jacobson, who attended via a remote link.

She said she hoped the inquest into their deaths, which are still to be ascertained, "stops the social media speculation" around how they died.

Addressing the sisters' father directly, Schofield said: "It must be a difficult day for your family.

"The loss of your daughters in these tragic circumstances must be unbearable."

An investigation by Sussex Police into how the three came to be in the water is ongoing.

Officers were satisfied there was no third-party involvement in their deaths.

"Medical investigations are ongoing to finalise the cause of death" for all three women, the inquest was told.

The court heard Adetoro's body was brought by the RNLI to shore, where emergency services were in attendance. She was declared dead at the scene.

Christina Walters' body was also recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat. She was taken to the RNLI lifeboat station at Brighton Marina and pronounced deceased.

The body of the younger sister washed ashore near the Black Rock.

Their father formally identified their bodies, the court heard.

Ch Supt Adam Hays had previously said Sussex Police would "leave no stone unturned" in their investigation.

The force said it was exploring a "number of lines of inquiry, which include understanding exactly who Jane, Christina and Rebecca were, to help us build a picture of how and why they came to be at the beach that morning".

Hundreds of hours of CCTV have been reviewed, while a number of witnesses have been spoken to, it added.

Emergency services were called at about 05:45 BST to a report of a person in the water near Black Rock car park in Madeira Drive.

In a moving tribute, their father previously said "no words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives".

He described the three as "my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love".

"You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed."

A fundraiser for the family had raised more than £44,000 as of Friday afternoon.

The court was told the occupations of the three women, who were all born in Luton, were unknown.

The inquest is set to continue early October.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.