A MAN has died after going into the sea during last night's heavy storm. 

A large scale search was launched at around 11.30pm to try and save the 29-year-old who was seen walking into the water from Brighton beach near the King’s Road Arches.

Police, firefighters, paramedics, lifeboats, a helicopter and the coastguard battled freezing temperatures, high winds, fog, rain and high swells in the water while searching east and west of Brighton Palace Pier for nearly two hours, an eye witnesses said.

This morning a police spokesman said he was found and pulled from the water just before 1.40am.

Attempts to revive him with CPR failed and he was pronounced dead at Royal Sussex County Hospital shortly after.

A woman who had been with him tried to save him but managed to get out of the water and raise the alarm.

She was checked over by paramedics and was not hurt.