Two men swept off Brighton beach were taking part in a "dare"

The two friends, Dan Nicholls, 23, of Florence Road and Freddie Reynolds, 24, of Buckingham Place, who had been with other friends on a night out in the town, were swept out to sea near the Palace Pier at about 1am.

DCI Hughes said: "Our on-going investigation has so far revealed that a group of seven friends had gone out that night to celebrate one of them emigrating.
 
"Initial investigations show that during their night out there had been a dare to stand by the sea, with Dan volunteering. 

"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.
 
"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 emphasize that people should keep away from the sea when it is so dangerous."

Extensive searches took place throughout the night by coastal rescue services, NPAS and the Brighton & Hove seafront officers who searched the shore on their quadbikes. 

Today Sussex Police specialist search officers have co-ordinated a search of the shoreline with the support of HM Coastguard with 17 members of the Sussex Search and Rescue team searching repeatedly from the West Pier to Saltdean Lido. 

The National Police Air Support also made a sweep of the shore from Rottingdean and out to sea at midday.

DCI Carwyn Hughes said: "This is a tragic incident and we are supporting the families involved. The body recovered on the beach is likely to be one of the two men and we are doing all we can to find the other with Coastguard further involved.
 
"The two friends had, with three other men, gone to the seafront after a night out with friends when the tragedy happened."
 
Specially trained officers are supporting the families.

This afternoon a boy was discovered on Saltdean beach. In an effort to recover the other body further searches by Sussex Search and Rescue team are planned to continue tomorrow.