THE mum of three sisters who were pulled from the water off Brighton beach also died by drowning 16 years ago, their family has said.
Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, were tragically pulled from the water last Wednesday.
It is feared the women – who lived together in Uxbridge, London, were “suddenly dragged into danger after misjudging the shingle shelf” close to the water’s edge.
Their aunt Ajike Adetoro, who lives in Manchester, paid tribute to the “happy girls” who were “the closest sisters and best friends who did everything together.”
The family said the girls’ mum also tragically died by drowning in Birmingham in 2010, according to The Times.
Ajike also slammed “absurd” conspiracy theories circulating online that are distressing the family.
Their dad Joseph said “no words can truly describe the pain” of losing his family, and described the girls as his “joy and strength”.
Joseph added: “The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal.”
“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.”
His wife Genevieve Barnaby described them as “the most beautiful girls [who] didn’t give us no trouble”.
She posted a tribute to her stepchildren, saying: “Our hearts are broken. The pain is indescribable.”
The sisters’ uncle Adesoji launched a fundraiser for the family.
He said: “As a family, we are still struggling to come to terms with what has happened. The girls had so much life ahead of them, and their loss has left a pain and emptiness in our hearts that words cannot describe.
“No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone all three.”
“Extremely intelligent” Jane worked as an accountant and relatives said she was the serious one who took on the “role of mother to the other sisters”.
Christina had recently graduated from Brunel University, and Rebecca was described as the “baby” who was mischievous and lively.
A frantic search was launched at 5.45am last Wednesday after reports of a person in the water near Brighton.
Emergency services were called to the beach near Black Rock car park off Madeira Drive.
Cops later confirmed three women had been pulled from the water.
It was feared one of the women was “suddenly dragged into danger after misjudging the shingle shelf”, though police are understood to be probing a number of lines of enquiry.
The pebbled beach around central Brighton and the Palace Pier is notorious for having the steep slopes, which can be incredibly dangerous for swimmers.
A Coastguard source told The Sun: “It’s feared at least one of the women went into the water for a paddle and was then suddenly dragged into danger after misjudging the shingle shelf.
“If you took one pace out thinking it’s flat you could go down two feet or more very quickly.
“That can turn things very dangerous very quickly.”
The investigation to understand how Jane, Christina and Rebecca came to be in the water is ongoing.
Sussex Police said there is currently no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove 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.
“This investigation will continue in earnest, with Jane, Christina and Rebecca’s family at its centre. I would ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.”
