Two bodies in sea after empty boat discovered off Lancing
- Published
The first man's body was recovered from the sea near Hove
The bodies of two men have been found in the sea after an empty boat was discovered drifting off the Sussex coast.
The green inflatable dinghy was found at about 14:00 BST on Monday in the sea off Lancing and Shoreham.
An inshore lifeboat recovered a man's body from the sea near Hove at about 15:10.
A second body was found by the RNLI and coastguard on Tuesday, Sussex Police said.
Three lifeboats were deployed during the nine-hour search on Monday.
Inshore lifeboats and a helicopter resumed the search on Tuesday for a second person in the water after police discovered during inquiries into the identity of the first man that his friend was also missing.
The search resumed early on Tuesday
Police discovered two men had been on the boat which was found off the Sussex coast
Brighton RNLI said the empty dinghy had been found "out to sea" by a passing vessel.
Crews searched the area until about 23:00 BST on Monday and resumed at 06:00 on Tuesday.
The empty boat contained "some personal effects appearing to belong to someone living in Sussex", a Sussex Police spokeswoman said.
At about 08:45 on Tuesday the second man's body was spotted by the crew of a coastguard helicopter and was picked up by the Shoreham lifeboat crew.
The body has not formally been identified, but is believed to be that of the missing man, a Sussex Police spokesman said.
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, external, on Twitter, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.