The sister of three siblings who died in the sea off Brighton has paid tribute to them at their joint funeral.
Lilian, the sole surviving sister, wrote a poignant message at the service in north-west London: "We were four, and now I am one." Her three siblings, Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, died in what police described as a "tragic incident" on May 13.
Their father, Joseph Jacobson, shared his grief, stating, "You were more than my daughters: you were my joy, my strength and the beautiful light that filled my life with love." He remembered Jane for her strength, Christina for her kindness, and Rebecca for her warm and joyful spirit.
Rebecca was found washed ashore and declared dead, while Jane and Christina's bodies were recovered from the sea by the RNLI. Sussex Police have stated there is no evidence of criminality and they are not seeking anyone in connection with the deaths. However, an investigation is ongoing to determine how the sisters came to be in the water.
Relatives revealed that the sisters' mother had died by drowning in Birmingham 16 years prior. Speaking on behalf of the family, cousin Natalie Walters-Daniel said, "Your lives will never be forgotten, and your memory will live on forever."
The sisters, who were all born in Luton and lived together in Greenford, north-west London, had pursued their education and built careers. Jane was a senior accountant, Christina a junior accountant, and Rebecca a HR administrator.
An inquest into their deaths was opened on May 29 at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted, but the cause of death for all three women remains to be ascertained. The coroner's officer confirmed that police are satisfied there was no third-party involvement, and the coroner expressed hope that the information shared would end social media speculation.