Man 'swept out to sea after dare' in the UK

One of the men who went missing at sea off Brighton beach in England during the early hours of the morning was swept in after taking part in a dare.

Dan Nicholls, 23, and Freddie Reynolds, 24, were part of a group of five friends who went down to the seafront to take part in a dare to stand at the water’s edge, Sussex Police said.

A body, believed to be one of the men, was found by a member of the public on Saltdean beach at 2.25pm today, a police spokeswoman said.

Detective Chief Inspector Carwyn Hughes said initial investigations showed that there had been a dare to stand by the sea, with Mr Nicholls volunteering.

He said: “Five of the friends went to the seafront and Dan took up the dare and was at the water’s edge when we are told a wave hit him, knocking him off his feet and he was taken out to sea.

“On seeing this Freddie, with another friend, started to strip and Freddie dived in to rescue Dan but was also swept out.

“Their shocked friends tried to enter the water but were beaten back by the waves.

“Tragically, they saw Dan and Freddie together before they lost sight of them and called for the help of emergency services.”

The families of both men agreed to name them this afternoon following a huge search and rescue operation which involved the Coastguard, lifeboat crews and Sussex Police.

Mr Nicholls and Mr Reynolds, both from Brighton, had been with other friends on a night out in the city when they were swept out to sea near the Palace Pier at about 1am.

A body, which Sussex Police confirmed is “likely” to be one of the men, was recovered from the beach four miles east of the Palace Pier this afternoon and formal identification is yet to take place.

Mr Nicholls and Mr Reynolds, who worked as a dispensary technician at a chemist, were old school friends who used to share a flat together in Brighton, their families said.

A statement from Mr Reynolds family said his loss would leave a “huge void in a lot of people’s lives” and thanked everyone who had been involved in the search.

It said: “Freddie was a very loyal and brilliant friend.

“He was always looking out for his friends and family and people loved to be around him.

“He was incredibly funny and loved a joke and a banter around the dinner table.

“He had a variety of interests and could often be found skateboarding at The Level or updating his online music under the name of FRNZ.

“He was a brilliant partner to girlfriend Stephanie and was always showering her in cuddles.

“Sister Rosie describes him as a wonderful brother who was always there for her.

“He has a half brother Matthew.”

Mr Nicholls family said he was “very bright” and “clearly well loved by many”.

They continued: “He was quick and witty with lots of friends to whom he was close and loyal.

“He loved music which he both made and produced.

“Dan had a passion for cookery and in July last year prepared a culinary feast as part of his graduation celebrations.

“Dan enjoyed skateboarding at The Level in Brighton with friends and was also a Brighton and Hove Albion season ticket holder with his mother.

“Dan was a sensitive individual who had a real enthusiasm for life.

“He was a gentleman who always showed concern for others and was a great ’hugger’.”

Mr Nicholls leaves his mother Wendy and sister Martha.

Mr Hughes described the incident as ``tragic'' and said that officers were supporting the families.

He said the men had gone out as part of a group of seven to celebrate one of them emigrating and that the police and Coastguard were doing all they could to find the other man involved.

Extensive searches by coastal rescue services, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter and Brighton and Hove seafront officers, who searched the shore on their quadbikes, took place throughout the night in treacherous conditions.

It turned into a recovery mission this morning, with “no chance of finding them alive”, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Sussex Police specialist search officers co-ordinated a search of the shoreline from first light with the support of the Coastguard, while 17 members of the Sussex Search and Rescue Team scoured the shoreline repeatedly from the West Pier to Saltdean Lido.

NPAS also made a sweep of the shore from Rottingdean and out to sea at midday. Further searches by the Sussex Search and Rescue Team will take place tomorrow in the hope of finding the other man’s body, police said.

Mr Hughes said: “This was a tragic incident.

“The friends had discussed the dare before seeing the ferocity of the waves.

“The sea was gale force nine and very dangerous.

“The dare was to stand near the sea but this was still too close as is evident in what happened. What was a bit of fun had tragic consequences in this case.

“Our thoughts go out to Dan and Freddie’s families and friends at this sad time.

“We will continue to do all we can to recover the second body.

“I would emphasise that people should keep away from the sea when it is so dangerous.”

Emma James, 24, from Brighton, drove past the scene of the search at 1am while taking a friend home and watched it unfold over the next three hours.

She said: “There were police and rescue crews everywhere.

“It was pretty horrible.

“We just sat there for hours as we wanted them to be found.

“The sea was so rough, the lifeboats looked like they were going to tip over they were being tossed around so much.”

Emergency services were also called after an 18-year-old man was seen entering the sea in Brighton shortly before 9am.

The man, who had taken his top and shoes off before running into the water just to the east of the Palace Pier, was helped from the sea by one of three friends who was with him.

He was checked over on the beach by police and medical staff and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital by ambulance.