Shoreham deaths - latest: Three family members pulled from sea and girl fights for life

Three people from the same family - a man, a woman, and a teenage girl - have died after getting into trouble in the water off Shoreham-by-Sea.

A fourth person, a younger girl from the same family, also got into difficulty but was pulled from the sea and remains in a critical condition in hospital. Witnesses said they believed one of the children got caught in a fishing net. Landscaper Joe Chrisp, 24, added: "It happened when I was on my way back from work. There were loads of police, and I got turned around. It’s so tragic."

Coastguard helicopters, ambulances and police were scrambled to the coastal town in West Sussex on Tuesday afternoon following reports that four people were in trouble in the water. It's thought the family were camping nearby. They entered the water for a group swim in the harbour, Sussex Police said.

People living in the area say Shoreham Harbor has a steep shelf, where the seabed drops away quickly. It can make it difficult for swimmers to keep their balance. The town is popular with tourists for its shingle beach, nature reserve and historic centre and is popular with kitesurfers and paddleboarders.

The tragic deaths in Shoreham today come as the Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to tackle the UK's growing drowning crisis. Find out more about the campaign and how you can support it here .

Shoreham's local parish church has announced it will be opening its doors all day for people "saddened by the tragic news" to have a place to reflect.

Located just next to the beach, The Good Shepherd church said it will be a "quiet place" to reflect and commemorate the victims, and offer prayers of recoveryt to the injured girl.

"We give thanks for the heroic work of our emergency services,” the church added in a statement.

Located just outside of Brighton, Shoreham-by-Sea is a coastal town in West Sussex with direct links to the South Downs. Known locally as a more subdued alternative to the hustle and bustle of nearby Brighton and Hove, it is a popular spot for families and day-trippers.

The area's large shingle beach is popular with families, kitesurfers, windsurfers and paddle boarders, and a boardwalk runs along large swathes of the beach, both to protect the unusual wildlife and make the beach accessible to all.

The beach is located just a short walk away from the town centre and is home to a variety of rare vegetation, including the Yellow Horned Poppy, Sea Kale and Curled Dock and the Starry Clover. Due to its unusual plant life, the beach has been designated a Local Nature Reserve and regular events take place for people of all ages to learn about the area's marine life.

Footage from the rescue operation, including specialist officers and an air ambulance descending on the scene, was captured on video by a bystander

This is how the scene of the tragedy looked yesterday, when the emergency operation took place.

Here is a selection of images illustraing the size of the emergency response to this tragedy.