A man has died and another has been taken to the hospital after experiencing difficulties in the sea at West Wittering Beach in West Sussex. Emergency services were alerted to the situation around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after receiving concerns for the safety of two adults in the water.
Paramedics and coastguards responded to the scene, where both individuals were pulled from the sea. Despite the efforts of rescuers, one man was pronounced dead at the location. The second man was transported to a hospital for precautionary evaluation.
Authorities stated that the two men are not believed to have known each other. Sussex Police confirmed that next of kin have been notified and the incident has been referred to the coroner's office. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
West Wittering Beach administrators issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the death of a 55-year-old man. They reported that their lifeguards, along with ambulance service, coastguard, and other emergency personnel, provided advanced first aid and CPR. The administrators thanked all those who assisted during the response and requested privacy for the man's family.