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| Camber Sands deaths: Victims underestimated tide, RNLI says | Camber Sands deaths: Victims underestimated tide, RNLI says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five men who died at Camber Sands got into trouble after failing to realise how quickly the tide would come in, the RNLI has said. | Five men who died at Camber Sands got into trouble after failing to realise how quickly the tide would come in, the RNLI has said. |
| The men were on a day trip from London to the Sussex resort on Wednesday. | |
| The RNLI said it did not believe that rip currents were responsible for the deaths. Police said the group were in their late teens and early 20s. | The RNLI said it did not believe that rip currents were responsible for the deaths. Police said the group were in their late teens and early 20s. |
| One of the victims, Nitharsan Ravi, drove to the resort with four friends, his brother Ajirthan told the BBC. | One of the victims, Nitharsan Ravi, drove to the resort with four friends, his brother Ajirthan told the BBC. |
| He identified two of the other men as Kobi and Ken Nathan, from Erith in south-east London. | He identified two of the other men as Kobi and Ken Nathan, from Erith in south-east London. |
| Live updates from Camber Sands | Live updates from Camber Sands |
| The RNLI said it believed all five men fell into deep channels of water called sand-bars - 3ft (1m) deep undulations - which had been made deeper with the weekend storms. | |
| How to stay safe at the beach and in the sea | How to stay safe at the beach and in the sea |
| The brother of Mr Ravi identified a fourth victim only as Kurushanth. The identity of the fifth man is not yet clear. | The brother of Mr Ravi identified a fourth victim only as Kurushanth. The identity of the fifth man is not yet clear. |
| Three of the men were pulled from the water on Wednesday afternoon, while two more bodies were found later. | Three of the men were pulled from the water on Wednesday afternoon, while two more bodies were found later. |
| 'Incredibly tragic' | 'Incredibly tragic' |
| Police said no-one else was missing after an earlier search for further victims was abandoned. | Police said no-one else was missing after an earlier search for further victims was abandoned. |
| What are sand-bars? | |
| A sand-bar is a submerged or partly exposed ridge of sand or other sediment built up by currents in coastal waters that occur where waves break. | |
| They are usually made up of sand but can also involve other granular materials, such as shingle or even boulders. | |
| They are most pronounced in the heavy surf caused by storms. | |
| Sand-bars are the most common cause of rip currents, which are generated by waves breaking over them. | |
| The RNLI said that the sand-bars at Camber Sands were three feet deep and had been made deeper by the weekend storms. | |
| Ch Supt Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: "We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day. | Ch Supt Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: "We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day. |
| "We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area. | "We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area. |
| "These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day. | "These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day. |
| "We have no further reports of anyone else missing from Camber and there are no ongoing searches related to this incident. | "We have no further reports of anyone else missing from Camber and there are no ongoing searches related to this incident. |
| "This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time." | "This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time." |
| Camber Sands | Camber Sands |
| Members of the public and emergency services tried to save the men when the first alert came in just after 14:10 BST. | Members of the public and emergency services tried to save the men when the first alert came in just after 14:10 BST. |
| Rescuer Deven Small said: "I walked over to the scene and I could see a few people holding someone but his head kept on going in and out of the water. | Rescuer Deven Small said: "I walked over to the scene and I could see a few people holding someone but his head kept on going in and out of the water. |
| "I ran in and helped to carry him in. Adrenaline kicks in. I didn't want to, you're talking about someone's life on the line. | "I ran in and helped to carry him in. Adrenaline kicks in. I didn't want to, you're talking about someone's life on the line. |
| "It's not the nicest thing to see in the world, to see someone die in front of you." | "It's not the nicest thing to see in the world, to see someone die in front of you." |
| Two bodies were discovered by a member of the public as the tide receded at about 20:00, the RNLI said. | Two bodies were discovered by a member of the public as the tide receded at about 20:00, the RNLI said. |
| Rother District Council said up to 25,000 people use the beach each day. | Rother District Council said up to 25,000 people use the beach each day. |
| An online petition calling for lifeguards at Camber Sands has been signed by more than 4,000 people. | An online petition calling for lifeguards at Camber Sands has been signed by more than 4,000 people. |
| A council spokesman said: "Our beach patrols are on site throughout the summer and are able to advise people of potential dangers, reunite lost children and deal with any incidents on the beach. | A council spokesman said: "Our beach patrols are on site throughout the summer and are able to advise people of potential dangers, reunite lost children and deal with any incidents on the beach. |
| The Police and Crime Commission for Sussex, Katy Bourne said: "We do need to get together to see if further improvements need to be made [to safety at the beach]. | The Police and Crime Commission for Sussex, Katy Bourne said: "We do need to get together to see if further improvements need to be made [to safety at the beach]. |
| "We need to find the best answer. I don't know if lifeguards are the answer." | "We need to find the best answer. I don't know if lifeguards are the answer." |
| Last month, 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died while swimming in the sea there. He was one of three men who got into trouble in the water. | Last month, 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died while swimming in the sea there. He was one of three men who got into trouble in the water. |