The cause of death of the three sisters who drowned while swimming off the coast of Brighton is ‘yet to be ascertained’, an inquest has heard.
Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, who lived in Uxbridge, west London, died earlier this month after getting into trouble in the water off the coast.
Today an inquest was opened into the tragic deaths of the three sisters at Black Rock on Brighton beach – however it was revealed that the cause of death is still unknown.
The court at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, heard how Rebecca had been washed on to the shore of the beach on May 13 but declared dead by a paramedic.
Ms Adetoro and Christina’s bodies were then found at sea and brought to shore by an RNLI crew and declared deceased by a paramedic at the scene, the 15-minute inquest was told.
Post mortems have been carried out by Dr Olaf Biedryzycki but have yet to establish how they died with the cause of death for all three women being labelled ‘yet to be ascertained.’
In respect of each of the women, Victoria Foreman, coroner’s officer, said: ‘Medical examinations are ongoing to finalise the cause of death, but at this stage police are satisfied that there was no third party involvement.’
Coroner, Penelope Schofield, said she hoped information provided at the inquest opening would bring an end to social media speculation over the cause of the deaths.
Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, died earlier this month after getting into trouble in the water
Speaking to the victims’ father, Joseph Jacobson, who attended the hearing by a remote link, she said understood the hearing was a very emotional and difficult time for him and his family.
She said. ‘Police have indicated they are not looking any third party. I hope that by providing this information it will stop the social media speculation surrounding the circumstances of their death.’
Hundreds of people have taken to social media to express their personal theories over how the sisters died.
Some have falsely claimed they were small boat migrants thrown to their deaths by people traffickers with others suggesting the deaths may have been the result of a suicide pact.
Ms Schofield, senior coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, said: ‘I am not proposing to hear any further evidence today in respect of the deaths Jane Adetoro, Christina Waters and Rebecca Walters.’
She adjourned the hearing with a full inquest to be heard on October 8 this year.
No family members attended the hearing in person but several listened and watched on a remote link.
Police stand on the beach at Black Rock near Brighton Marina where the sisters’ bodies were pulled from the water
Earlier, relatives revealed the sisters mother, Janice, had died by drowning in Birmingham 16 years ago.
Janice Walters 43, had suffered from stress-related mental health issues and vanished from her home in the Erdington area of the city in the early hours of January 5, 2010.
The family said they were unaware the sisters had travelled to the Sussex resort that morning – but suggested they may have been paying tribute to their mother.
Describing them as quiet, close-knit women who did not drink, smoke or go clubbing, they said the sisters had been ‘totally happy’ and their deaths were completely ‘unexpected’.
Detectives have still not yet been able to establish how the women died, although they have stressed there is no evidence to suggest criminality or anyone else being involved.
The family has also hit out at conspiracy theories which circulated after the tragic deaths.
Ajike Adetoro, the sisters’ aunt, said: ‘The most disturbing part for us is the conspiracies. We’ve heard people jump to conclusions that it was a racist attack, a murder, that they were clubbing … the most absurd messages. It is all wrong.
‘These girls would not drink alcohol or smoke. They never went clubbing. They didn’t even have social media. They were their father’s world’.
A week after the tragedy the sisters’ father Joseph, released a heartbreaking tribute describing his ‘unbearable’ grief.
He said: ‘Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters – Jane, Christina, and Becky – whose lives ended so tragically far too soon. No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives.
‘Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.
‘Each of you was unique and precious in your own special way. Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful.
‘Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever.’
Joseph went on to pay tribute to each of his daughters individually.
He said: ‘Jane, your strength and loving spirit will never be forgotten. Christina, your kindness and beautiful heart touched so many lives. Becky, your warmth and joyful soul brought happiness wherever you went. You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed.
Police at the scene on May 13, shortly after the sisters’ bodies had been pulled from the water
‘The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal. There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared — the laughter, the conversations, the love, and the bond that death can never take away.’
Ajike Adetoro, the sisters’ aunt, said Jane, Christina and Rebecca had been ‘totally happy’ before they died, adding that their deaths were ‘totally unexpected’.
She said Christina had worked hard to move on from losing her mother.
A GoFundMe appeal started by the family to help Joseph pay for the sisters’ funerals has raised almost £45,000, shattering the original target of £18,000.
An investigation into how Jane, Christina and Rebecca came to be in the water remains ongoing.
Officers have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and made door-to-door enquiries at properties and businesses around the beach to try and trace the women’s last movements.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, said police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
He has previously said the force ‘will leave no stone unturned’ in the investigation to understand what led to the ‘tragic events of that Wednesday morning’.
Police and coastguard officials were stationed along the seafront and on the shingle beach on the day of the incident, where a lifeboat could be seen out at sea and a helicopter was flying overhead.
The sea appeared choppy, with waves crashing against the marina wall in windy conditions.
One theory being examined by the Coastguard is that at least one of the sisters may have waded out into the sea from the beach but got into difficulty when they stumbled off a shingle shelf where the seabed falls sharply into deep water.
A Coastguard source said: ‘The shoreline off Brighton Beach slopes steeply into deep water, many people don’t realise the danger.
‘You don’t have to go far out at all before there’s a big drop-off and you go from knee-high water to chest-high water.
‘Swimmers can be pulled out of their depth very quickly from the backwash and with pebbles shifting underfoot it becomes difficult to maintain your balance especially when you’re trying to climb back up the slope with waves crashing against you’.
The family had previously released a photograph of the three sisters, which was later revealed to be generated by them using AI and based on a genuine picture of the women when they were younger.
They later released a photo of the girls in their teenage years.
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