A teenager has died after getting into difficulty in the sea.
Emergency services and HM Coastguard were called to concerns for a boy’s welfare in the sea off West Wittering beach at around 1pm today.
A 17-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Sussex Police said his next of kin have been informed.
An investigation is now underway to understand the full circumstances of the incident, a force spokesman said.
A passerby said: “I was at the beach from around 1pm.
“Suddenly there were loads of police and coastguard. I could see lots of upset children and people from what looked like a school trip.
“It was absolutely horrendous. The tide was out at that time.”
It is believed the teen was one of around 50 pupils on a school trip from London to the beach.
Other children, believed to be his classmates, were visibly distressed on the beach after he was airlifted to hospital.
Photographs of the scene showed dozens of emergency service workers attending the incident.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Emergency services and HM Coastguard were called to concerns for a boy’s welfare in the sea off West Wittering beach at around 1pm on Tuesday (July 2).
"A 17-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital, where he was sadly confirmed deceased. His next of kin have been informed.
"An investigation is underway to understand the full circumstances of the incident."
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