Two friends died when a fishing trip ended in tragedy, an inquest heard.
John Stokes, 54, of Ursula Avenue, and David Calvert, 58, of Grafton Road, both Selsey, died after their dinghy overturned off Selsey Bill on August 28.
A holidaymaker on the beach dialled 999 after spotting the pair in difficulty just 75 to 100 metres from the shore.
A major sea search was launched involving Selsey lifeboat.
The inquest was told one of the men was pulled unconscious from the waves by the lifeboat crew just after 3pm. He was wearing a life jacket but it was not inflated.
He was given first aid on the beach and taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The other was found four hours later by a fisherman.
The inquest heard from the lifeboat crew that the sea around Selsey Bill could look deceptive and was dangerous where the east and west currents meet.
West Sussex coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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