A school trip turned tragic when a 17-year-old drowned at a Sussex seaside spot popular with celebrities
The boy was reportedly among 50 pupils visiting West Wittering during a school trip, with other teens looking visibly distressed as they watched him being airlifted to hospital
A teenager who drowned at a popular celebrity hotspot on the Sussex Coast was reportedly among a group of 50 pupils on a school trip.
The unnamed boy, believed to be from London, was part of a school on a coach trip to West Wittering on Tuesday when he was pulled from the water at the popular spot. Emergency services said they were scrambled following reports that a teenager had got into difficulty at around 1pm.
Other children who were believed to be his classmates were visibly distressed as they stood on the beach and watched the teen being airlifted off the coast. An ambulance spokesman confirmed the boy was flown directly to hospital by the Coast Guard.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said in a statement that he was confirmed dead after arriving at the hospital. They 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." Officers from the Met Police broke the news of the teen’s death to his parents on Tuesday afternoon.
West Wittering is famous for its celebrity links, with its rolling sand dunes and wide beaches being home to massive stars like Kate Winslet. Other big names who have lived in the area include Brit actor and singer Michael Ball, actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, and Rolling Stones frontman Keith Richards.
Distressed pupils reportedly watched as the boy was removed from the beach ( Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)
The beach is also hugely popular with members of the public, up to one million of whom grace the area each year, according to the local tourist board. West Wittering Beach said that up to 20,000 people may descend on the beach on any given day during the height of summer.
While popular, the sheer number of people who visit the beach means that many require assistance in the water. The board estimates that up to 190 people require lifeguard assistance via rescue board of jet ski rescue each year.
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