This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/25/camber-sands-deaths-prompt-fresh-calls-for-lifeguard-station
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Camber Sands: family express anger over deaths of five friends from London | Camber Sands: family express anger over deaths of five friends from London |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The five young men who died at Camber Sands were two brothers and their friends enjoying a day trip to the popular beach, it has emerged, as the family of one of the victims questioned why no safety measures had been brought in following the death of a man last month. | |
| Three of the men were pulled out of the sea at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex, on Wednesday afternoon and two others were found later that evening when the tide receded. | |
| They have been named locally as Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, brothers Kobi, 22, and Ken Nathan, 19, and Kurushanth Srithavarajah, 27. | They have been named locally as Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, brothers Kobi, 22, and Ken Nathan, 19, and Kurushanth Srithavarajah, 27. |
| The five, all from Greater London, had travelled in a car belonging to Ravi, a student at the University of Brighton studying aeronautical engineering. One theory is they had been playing football on a sandbar and got cut off by a strong tide. | |
| As relatives and friends gathered in support at Ravi’s family home in Plumstead, south-east London, his distraught younger sister Mayura, 17, sobbed and clutched her brother’s T-shirt as she said: “The people he died with are all his best friends, really close mates.” | As relatives and friends gathered in support at Ravi’s family home in Plumstead, south-east London, his distraught younger sister Mayura, 17, sobbed and clutched her brother’s T-shirt as she said: “The people he died with are all his best friends, really close mates.” |
| The family were feeling angry that the stretch of beach had not been blocked off after a man died there last month, his sister said. | |
| She added: “Now it’s been blocked. Why didn’t they do it before? They could have saved five other lives.” | She added: “Now it’s been blocked. Why didn’t they do it before? They could have saved five other lives.” |
| Ravi’s brother Ajirthan, 19, said police came to their door at 11pm on Wednesday as his brother’s Golf GTI was one of the only vehicles left in the car park. | Ravi’s brother Ajirthan, 19, said police came to their door at 11pm on Wednesday as his brother’s Golf GTI was one of the only vehicles left in the car park. |
| “Because of the incident, they were assuming that the five passengers of the car were the five people they found,” he said. “We were distraught, we were so disappointed. We were so upset. It took a while for the police to verify the exact people. Then, about four hours later, they confirmed it’s my brother and his four friends.” | “Because of the incident, they were assuming that the five passengers of the car were the five people they found,” he said. “We were distraught, we were so disappointed. We were so upset. It took a while for the police to verify the exact people. Then, about four hours later, they confirmed it’s my brother and his four friends.” |
| He said the emergency services had told the family that Ken and Inthushan had got into difficulty first, getting trapped in quicksand or mud beneath the water, then his brother, Kobi Nathan and Kurushanth had tried to rescue them. | He said the emergency services had told the family that Ken and Inthushan had got into difficulty first, getting trapped in quicksand or mud beneath the water, then his brother, Kobi Nathan and Kurushanth had tried to rescue them. |
| “Ken and Indu got stuck underneath the water,” he said. “What they did is the three boys tried to save them. The three boys went under water to try to save them.” | “Ken and Indu got stuck underneath the water,” he said. “What they did is the three boys tried to save them. The three boys went under water to try to save them.” |
| He said attempts failed and Kurushanth was brought out first and declared dead straight away. | He said attempts failed and Kurushanth was brought out first and declared dead straight away. |
| “My bro and Kobi had heartbeats and managed to survive for a few minutes but after first aid they couldn’t recover.” | “My bro and Kobi had heartbeats and managed to survive for a few minutes but after first aid they couldn’t recover.” |
| Both died within 15 minutes after being pulled from the water, he said. | Both died within 15 minutes after being pulled from the water, he said. |
| The bodies of Ken Nathan and Sriskantharasa were discovered later that evening, he said, adding that he thought they had got their legs caught in the “slippery mud” and sand on the sea bottom. | The bodies of Ken Nathan and Sriskantharasa were discovered later that evening, he said, adding that he thought they had got their legs caught in the “slippery mud” and sand on the sea bottom. |
| Paying tribute to his brother he said: “My brother knew Kurushanth through sport. They played football and cricket together. He had been friends with Kobi since secondary school. They were very close. They also went to university together. | Paying tribute to his brother he said: “My brother knew Kurushanth through sport. They played football and cricket together. He had been friends with Kobi since secondary school. They were very close. They also went to university together. |
| “Kobi’s and Ken’s parents have lost both their children. I’m devastated for everyone. I knew all the men. They were good innocent people who have lost their lives. They had just gone down for a day at the beach, like normal people. And unfortunately this happened.” | “Kobi’s and Ken’s parents have lost both their children. I’m devastated for everyone. I knew all the men. They were good innocent people who have lost their lives. They had just gone down for a day at the beach, like normal people. And unfortunately this happened.” |
| In tribute to Sriskantharasa, Ranu Kumar wrote on Facebook: “Was one of the best, genuine, one of my closest cousins in UK.” | In tribute to Sriskantharasa, Ranu Kumar wrote on Facebook: “Was one of the best, genuine, one of my closest cousins in UK.” |
| Friends of Ravi paid tribute to him on social media. Jackson Bosco wrote: “RIP Nitharsan Ravi. Can’t believe to hear the news that you were one of the boys at Camber Sands. You were truly a good person with a good heart. You are going to be missed on this earth.” | Friends of Ravi paid tribute to him on social media. Jackson Bosco wrote: “RIP Nitharsan Ravi. Can’t believe to hear the news that you were one of the boys at Camber Sands. You were truly a good person with a good heart. You are going to be missed on this earth.” |
| Another friend, Charles Bosco, 27, told the Guardian that Ravi “was a really nice and quiet boy. He will truly be missed by all his friends and family. We still can’t believe he’s gone. May he rest in peace.” | Another friend, Charles Bosco, 27, told the Guardian that Ravi “was a really nice and quiet boy. He will truly be missed by all his friends and family. We still can’t believe he’s gone. May he rest in peace.” |
| #RIP Nitharsan Ravi .. Can't believe to hear the news that you were one of the boys at #Cambersands . You were... https://t.co/n4uo3N9IrV | #RIP Nitharsan Ravi .. Can't believe to hear the news that you were one of the boys at #Cambersands . You were... https://t.co/n4uo3N9IrV |
| RIP Nitharsan Ravi. Still can't believe you're gone. #CamberSand #RipTides #RIP pic.twitter.com/L3kp4QDfjN | RIP Nitharsan Ravi. Still can't believe you're gone. #CamberSand #RipTides #RIP pic.twitter.com/L3kp4QDfjN |
| Bosco said he had known Ravi since they were 10 and they had gone to Tamil school together. He said they had gone on a pilgrimage to Walsingham for a Tamil festival every year. | Bosco said he had known Ravi since they were 10 and they had gone to Tamil school together. He said they had gone on a pilgrimage to Walsingham for a Tamil festival every year. |
| Ch Supt Di Roskilly 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. 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. | Ch Supt Di Roskilly 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. 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. This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them.” | |
| It was believed a sixth person was missing but there was no search operation at the beach on Thursday and day trippers were continuing to arrive. | It was believed a sixth person was missing but there was no search operation at the beach on Thursday and day trippers were continuing to arrive. |
| There was a previous death at Camber Sands in July, when Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, died after getting into difficulty while swimming. Da Cruz was one of three men who got into trouble at that time – the two others, who were not connected to him, were a man aged 35 and his 17-year-old son. | There was a previous death at Camber Sands in July, when Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, died after getting into difficulty while swimming. Da Cruz was one of three men who got into trouble at that time – the two others, who were not connected to him, were a man aged 35 and his 17-year-old son. |
| The deaths have intensified calls for lifeguards to be stationed at the beach. There are no permanent lifeguards at Camber Sands, and a petition on Change.org set up last month by Josie Holloway, from Greatstone, a coastal town about 10 miles away, called for them to be stationed there during the summer. | The deaths have intensified calls for lifeguards to be stationed at the beach. There are no permanent lifeguards at Camber Sands, and a petition on Change.org set up last month by Josie Holloway, from Greatstone, a coastal town about 10 miles away, called for them to be stationed there during the summer. |
| The petition has received more than 5,000 signatures and states: “Camber Sands gets unbelievably busy during summer time. They have beach patrol but no lifeguards … I feel it could save lives.” | The petition has received more than 5,000 signatures and states: “Camber Sands gets unbelievably busy during summer time. They have beach patrol but no lifeguards … I feel it could save lives.” |
| The list of signatories has been growing rapidly since Wednesday’s deaths. | The list of signatories has been growing rapidly since Wednesday’s deaths. |
| Camber Sands was quiet early on Thursday with only a few dozen people on the beach. A member of staff at Antonio’s cafe near the seafront, who has lived in Camber for 46 years, said Rother district council needed to reinvest the tourism revenues into safety features for the beach. | Camber Sands was quiet early on Thursday with only a few dozen people on the beach. A member of staff at Antonio’s cafe near the seafront, who has lived in Camber for 46 years, said Rother district council needed to reinvest the tourism revenues into safety features for the beach. |
| The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “The council needs to start putting the thousands of pounds of revenue they receive from the village back into saving lives,” she said. “There’s a beach patrol but no lifeguard. The beach patrol focuses on helping distressed parents with lost children. I’d love to know what training they have for things like first aid. I’d be surprised if they had any at all.” | The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “The council needs to start putting the thousands of pounds of revenue they receive from the village back into saving lives,” she said. “There’s a beach patrol but no lifeguard. The beach patrol focuses on helping distressed parents with lost children. I’d love to know what training they have for things like first aid. I’d be surprised if they had any at all.” |
| Member of staff at this seafront cafe has hit out at lack of lifeguards on Camber Sands (there are none). pic.twitter.com/8R2LZnCJbk | Member of staff at this seafront cafe has hit out at lack of lifeguards on Camber Sands (there are none). pic.twitter.com/8R2LZnCJbk |
| Whitney Bibby, 20, who works in a cafe near the beachfront and was raised in Camber, said she believed the most likely cause of the tragedy was the strong riptides in the area. | Whitney Bibby, 20, who works in a cafe near the beachfront and was raised in Camber, said she believed the most likely cause of the tragedy was the strong riptides in the area. |
| Bibby said it was a commonly held view that revenues raised in Camber were disproportionately spent on the affluent town of Bexhill, about 20 miles away. “There should be lifeguards,” she said. “It’s £12 a day in the car park, so much is raised they should put some back.” | Bibby said it was a commonly held view that revenues raised in Camber were disproportionately spent on the affluent town of Bexhill, about 20 miles away. “There should be lifeguards,” she said. “It’s £12 a day in the car park, so much is raised they should put some back.” |
| A member of staff at Laguna gift shop, who has been in Camber for more than 40 years, said up until the recent deaths she could not recall a similar tragedy in three decades. The 79-year-old said it was “disgusting” that there were no lifeguards. | A member of staff at Laguna gift shop, who has been in Camber for more than 40 years, said up until the recent deaths she could not recall a similar tragedy in three decades. The 79-year-old said it was “disgusting” that there were no lifeguards. |
| Jane Walker, 26, from south London, went swimming in the sea off Camber Sands on Thursday. “It’s awful what happened, obviously, but we’re not swimming out far and we’ve been down here a few times before so know the area,” she said. | Jane Walker, 26, from south London, went swimming in the sea off Camber Sands on Thursday. “It’s awful what happened, obviously, but we’re not swimming out far and we’ve been down here a few times before so know the area,” she said. |
| Walker said she was shocked by the deaths of the five men. “I couldn’t believe it when we found out the day before we were coming down. It’s really sad. Five is so many it makes you wonder what could have gone wrong.” | Walker said she was shocked by the deaths of the five men. “I couldn’t believe it when we found out the day before we were coming down. It’s really sad. Five is so many it makes you wonder what could have gone wrong.” |
| She added: “I am really surprised there are no lifeguards. In fact, I don’t think I ever noticed that before. That’s crazy. It’s such a long beach and it can get so busy.” | She added: “I am really surprised there are no lifeguards. In fact, I don’t think I ever noticed that before. That’s crazy. It’s such a long beach and it can get so busy.” |
| The RNLI said that while it was too early to determine any change in the location of its lifeguards, the policy was under constant review and Wednesday’s events would be factored into the charity’s planning. | The RNLI said that while it was too early to determine any change in the location of its lifeguards, the policy was under constant review and Wednesday’s events would be factored into the charity’s planning. |
| A spokesperson for Rother district council said: “We are very saddened to hear of this incident and our thoughts are with the families of those involved. | A spokesperson for Rother district council said: “We are very saddened to hear of this incident and our thoughts are with the families of those involved. |
| “Regular assessments are carried out at Camber beach, along with the RNLI, to inform what measures need to be taken to guide visitor safety and ensure the beach is safe. To date this has not identified the need for lifeguards to be deployed at the beach and there have never been lifeguards employed at the beach.” | “Regular assessments are carried out at Camber beach, along with the RNLI, to inform what measures need to be taken to guide visitor safety and ensure the beach is safe. To date this has not identified the need for lifeguards to be deployed at the beach and there have never been lifeguards employed at the beach.” |
| The RNLI has urged seaside visitors to take care and respect the water after Wednesday’s incident brought the number of deaths around Britain’s coastline in the past week up to 12. “The sea may look appealing and the RNLI would encourage people to use it, but do so safely – it can be dangerously unpredictable,” a spokeswoman said. | The RNLI has urged seaside visitors to take care and respect the water after Wednesday’s incident brought the number of deaths around Britain’s coastline in the past week up to 12. “The sea may look appealing and the RNLI would encourage people to use it, but do so safely – it can be dangerously unpredictable,” a spokeswoman said. |
| Additional reporting by Damien Gayle | Additional reporting by Damien Gayle |