Police launch probe after boy, 17, drowned while on school trip 'after getting into difficulties in the sea' - as horrified locals describe 'horrendous' scenes at Sussex beach By Richard Percival Published: 11:18, 3 July 2024 | Updated: 13:22, 3 July 2024 e-mail 353 shares Police have launched an investigation after a teenage boy drowned on a school trip to a Sussex beauty spot popular with celebrities. Lifeguards on jet skis raced to save the 17-year-old who got into difficulty in the sea at West Wittering beach on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were called at around 1pm with police and coastguard crews attending the scene.
His classmates from Uxbridge College in London watched in horror as he was airlifted to hospital. He was later confirmed dead. It is believed he was one of around 50 pupils on a coach trip to on Tuesday morning.
One eyewitness told the Brighton Argus: 'I was at the beach from around 1pm. Suddenly there were loads of police and coastguard. The 17-year-old was on a coach trip to West Wittering when he got into difficulty in the sea Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a child in difficulty at around 1pm on Tuesday West Wittering in Sussex is popular with tourists and can draw up to 20,000 visitors a day '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.' A safety briefing with lifeguards at West Wittering Estate had been booked.
However, .
