Police in Brighton, England are working on a new theory after three sisters drowned in the sea off Brighton Beach early Wednesday.
Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32 and Rebecca Walters, 31, from Uxbridge, London, were pulled from the water near the Palace Pier at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Police responded after a witness reported people struggling in the water.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected in their deaths, police said.
Investigators originally believed the three sisters walked into the water together and drowned in a suicide pact.
Now investigators are working on a new theory that one of the sisters may have waded too far into the frigid water and the other two siblings drowned while trying to help her.
Investigators say one of the sisters “lost her footing” on a shelf that dropped away steeply not far from the shore.
READ MORE: Three Sisters Commit Suicide by Drowning: “That is Not a Black Thing”
Coastguards believe the three women were swept away from shore by strong currents after falling off the coastal shelf.
Locals in Brighton say the area is treacherous because the sea floor drops away dramatically not far from the beach.
Signs are posted warning tourists about the danger, especially around the Palace Pier area where the water is steepest.
In an emotional tribute, their father Joseph said the girls’ lives “ended so tragically far too soon.” He said “no words can truly describe the pain” of “losing three daughters in the prime of their lives”.
Joseph said there are days when the grief feels “unbearable” but he holds on to the memories they shared and “the bond that death can never take away”.
“Each of you was unique and precious in your own special way. Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful,” he said in a tribute to his girls.
“Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever.”
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said, “The thoughts of everyone at Sussex Police are with the family of Jane, Christina and Rebecca following this devastating loss,
“I know this incident has had a profound impact on the local community in Brighton, and across the country and I’d like to reassure the public we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that Wednesday morning.”