The family of a woman who died while swimming today paid tribute to the people who tried to save her from the sea.

Anne Brown, 62, got into difficulties off Southwick beach, near Carrots Cafe.

It is believed she suffered a diabetic seizure.

Mrs Brown, who lived at Flag Court, Hove, was swimming with her sister but when she tried to get out of the sea, a strong undercurrent kept pulling her back and knocking her off her feet.

Her sister, Helen Armstrong, and others on the beach tried to help Mrs Brown but she began to panic.

Mrs Armstrong said: "I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who tried to help.

"It showed me just how kind people can be."

Esme Parks has bruising on her arms and legs where Mrs Brown kicked her as she struggled to pull her to safety.

She said: "At one point the lady said to us, 'Just leave me to drown'. My brother told her, 'We're not leaving you'. But it was no good. We just couldn't get her out."

Mrs Parks praised the clear thinking and bravery of Richard Hanekom, nine, who ran for a blanket to try to hoist Mrs Brown out.

When he found out she had diabetes, he got her sugary water then ran to the road to wait for the ambulance.

Richard said: "It was a bit scary but I just thought about what I should do and did it."

Before Richard could give Mrs Brown the drink, she passed out. Eventually rescuers managed to lift her on to the beach but medics, who arrived minutes later, could not revive her.

Richard's mother Debbie said: "It was terrifying how quickly the situation turned from a little problem into something really serious."

Mrs Armstrong, 66, said she and her sister regularly swam together.

They had also travelled all over North America and in June they spent two weeks exploring Finland.

Mrs Brown's son Jon said: "She was very enthusiastic about travelling. She would have gone somewhere new every month if she could."

The pensioner spent her teenage years in Brighton before moving to London and then Hertfordshire to start a family with her husband Henry.

She worked as an accommodation manager at Hertfordshire University and had three children, Jon, Charlotte and Joel, now all in their 30s.

When Mr Brown died in 2002, Mrs Brown moved to Hove to be with her sister and son Jon who both live nearby.

Though retired from her university work, Mrs Brown threw herself into countless activities.

She ran her own publishing business, worked for the National Trust, sat on NHS complaints board panels and started a book club for the tenants of Flag Court.

Mrs Armstrong said: "I will miss her company so much. She was more than a sister to me. She was my best friend."