Three sisters who died after being pulled from sea off Brighton died by suicide, inquest finds

A coroner has ruled that the three sisters whose bodies were recovered from the sea off Brighton earlier this year tragically took their own lives.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 5.45am on 13 May, before the bodies of Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, from west London, were pulled from the water.

And now, an inquest into their deaths heard that the sisters had travelled by taxi to Birmingham the day before they went to the seaside city and were dropped off at the street where their mother, who died by drowning in 2010, lived.

They arrived at Linton Walk, Birmingham, near Brookvale Park Lake, at 11.36pm on 11 May and were picked up to return to the flat they lived in together in Greenford, west London, at 1.28am on 12 May.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore told the hearing at Woodvale Coroner’s Court in Brighton that there was no CCTV to see what the women had been doing in the time they were in Birmingham.

On the evening of 12 May, they took a pre-booked taxi to Brighton and arrived near the seafront at 10.21pm.

They are thought to have last been seen alive on CCTV from the beach at 2.42am on 13 May.

The cause of death for all three women was concluded to be drowning, and that they died by suicide (Charlotte Coney/Getty Images)

Jane was brought to shore by an RNLI crew and declared dead at the scene on the morning of 13 May, the inquest heard.

Christina Walters was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat, while Rebecca Walters was washed onto the shore of Brighton beach. They were also pronounced dead that morning by paramedics.

Concluding the inquest into their deaths, senior coroner Penelope Schofield told the court on Thursday (8 October): “On May 13, in hours of darkness, they entered the sea at Brighton, they could not swim, and sea conditions were adverse.”

She concluded the medical cause of death for all three women was drowning and that they died by suicide.

After the tragedy, the sisters' father Joseph paid tribute in a statement shared by Sussex Police.

Their father, Joseph, paid tribute, calling the women his 'joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family' (PA)

It read: "Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters - Jane, Christina, and Becky - whose lives ended so tragically far too soon.

"No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives. Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.

"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. Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.