A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Police in Brighton believe they have identified three women whose bodies were found off the beach on Wednesday morning (13 May).
“Emergency services were called to the beach near Black Rock car park off Madeira Drive at around 5.45am to reports of concern for a person in the water. On arrival, three bodies were sadly recovered from the sea nearby.
“Following extensive enquiries, we believe we have now identified all three women. Their next of kin have been informed and formal identification procedures are now being undertaken.
“It would not be appropriate to publicly name the women before these procedures are completed.
Lifeboats also joined the search(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
“Their loved ones are being supported by specialist officers following their tragic loss.
“An investigation is ongoing to understand how all three women came to be in the water. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.”
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “This is an utterly heartbreaking tragedy, and my thoughts are with the loved ones of these three young women after their devastating loss.
“They will remain at the forefront of our minds as we search for the answers their families, and the wider public, desperately seek.
“This is a sensitive investigation that includes a number of hypotheses, and it would not be appropriate to speculate as we to continue to gather evidence.
“I would once again ask for the public’s patience while we establish the full facts, which will be shared publicly as soon as we are able.
“Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ledmore.”
It is thought that the three women may have entered the water from the beach near to where they were found before getting into difficulty.
Cops believe there is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.
The incident prompted a huge search operation with coastguard boats scouring the water as helicopters flew overhead.
There were more than a dozen police officers, police vans and cars as well as HM Coastguard Search and Rescue officers and equipment at the scene.
The beach later reopened following an investigation that started at around 5.45am on Wednesday.
Sources told The Sun yesterday they believed the women were in their late teens or early 20s, and that they were dressed in “going-out clothes”.
A local nightclub worker told The Sun yesterday they believed the trio had been at a David Attenborough-themed night out hosted by beachfront club Quarters.
There are a number of nightclubs and bars running along Brighton’s waterfront.
Two workers at a cafe on the beachfront near Quarters said that revellers from nearby clubs frequently spill out onto the beach after closing time in the early hours of morning.
One said: “When you’re walking to work at seven in the morning you see people still drinking on the beach.
“The club nights can get quite intense.”
One local added: “I live at the marina and I came down here to feed the birds at 6am and saw all the emergency services.
“It’s extremely windy, cold and choppy in the waters today so I’m not sure why anyone would have been in the sea.
“The conditions would’ve probably been strong enough to push them from near Brighton Palace Pier.”
The leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, yesterday sent her condolences to the families of the three women.
In a statement, she said: “I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of three women off the Brighton coast this morning.
“My heart goes out to the friends and family of these women, and on behalf of Brighton and Hove I send sincere condolences.
“I would also like to thank the emergency services for their quick response and combined efforts; it is heartbreaking that their recovery efforts have ended in such tragic circumstances.”
Brighton is home to almost 36,000 students who attend the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.
