Brighton Beach Deaths: Drowning Confirmed for Three Nigerian Sisters

Sussex Police have officially announced the confirmed cause of death for three Nigerian sisters who tragically lost their lives on Brighton Beach. Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, were recovered from the waters near Madeira Drive on May 13, 2026. The women, who hailed from the Uxbridge area of London, were identified by local authorities.

Just days before their unfortunate demise, the trio had reportedly visited the very lake where their mother, Janice Adetoro, had drowned a decade earlier in 2016, near the family's former residence in Birmingham. The circumstances surrounding how the siblings entered the water on Brighton Beach remain a point of inquiry.

According to their cousin, Natalie Walters-Daniel, 33, the sisters' trip to Birmingham two days prior to their deaths carried a "deeper meaning." An inquest into the sisters' deaths commenced in May at the Brighton and Hove Coroner's Court and is slated to continue in early October. Initial post-mortem examinations had previously listed the provisional cause of death as "yet to be ascertained."

However, on Sunday, September 20, Sussex Police confirmed that subsequent post-mortem examinations conclusively determined that "all three women died by drowning." The police force also stated that its investigation into the sisters' deaths has now concluded, revealing no evidence of criminal activity or involvement from a third party.

Throughout the extensive investigation, Sussex Police officers, with support from other forces, meticulously reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, gathered statements from witnesses across the country, and conducted further inquiries to reconstruct the sisters' movements leading up to their deaths. The investigation established that the three women were dropped off by a taxi at Madeira Drive at 10:20 pm on May 12. Police found no indication that they visited any nightclubs or commercial establishments in the vicinity that evening. The women were observed entering the water near the location where their bodies were later recovered the following morning, "wearing everyday clothing."

With the police investigation now complete, the inquest will proceed to determine the exact facts surrounding where, when, and how the three sisters perished. A hearing in May revealed that Ms. Adetoro was brought ashore by an RNLI crew and declared deceased by a paramedic at the scene. Christina Walters was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat, while Rebecca Walters was found washed ashore on Brighton beach. Both were also pronounced dead by paramedics.

Following the sisters' deaths, their father, Joseph Jacobson, expressed that there were moments when his grief felt "unbearable." Yet, he holds onto the cherished memories they shared and "the bond that death can never take away."

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays remarked, "From the outset of this complex and challenging investigation, we have been acutely aware of the speculation surrounding this incident, the public’s unanswered questions and their desire for answers." He emphasized, "Our priority throughout has been uncovering the truth for the loved ones of Jane, Rebecca and Christina, because at this incident’s core there has always been a grieving family coming to terms with an unthinkable tragedy and loss. Our investigation has been thorough."

Chief Superintendent Hays further stated, "Our extensive enquiries intentionally considered concerns raised by black communities surrounding the deaths of black people in or near bodies of water, as we worked to understand who the three women were and the factors that could have led to them being found on the beach that morning. However, our enquiries have now concluded, pending any new information coming to light. Jane, Rebecca and Christina’s tragic deaths sparked a national outpouring of grief, and I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigation by coming forward with information. We will now support the coronial process and ask that the sisters’ family continue to be given privacy to come to terms with their loss."