FIVE young friends who drowned on a day trip were all fit, healthy and competent swimmers, an inquest heard.

The men, who all lived in the London area and were of Sri Lankan origin, ran into difficulties at Camber Sands beach, near Rye, East Sussex, on August 24 last year.

The inquest in Hastings heard that some of them had been to Camber before without incident, and that they were keen on sports, particularly cricket and football.

Relatives of the five men said in statements that they were all able swimmers who would often pack up and drive to the coast for day trips.

About a month before the tragedy, two other people also lost their lives at Camber. Their deaths are also being considered as part of the inquest into the five friends’ deaths.

In opening remarks, Patrick Roche, lawyer for the five victims’ families, said Camber Sands – which can attract up to 30,000 day-trippers during peak season – is a beach with “hidden dangers”.

He said: “The families are very keen for lessons to be learned and they are very keen that no one else suffers the same appalling tragedy as they have suffered.”

Before the inquest got under way, one relative said he believed the men would not have died if lifeguards had been deployed at Camber.

He told reporters: “We are just hoping that it will be more secure and safer and more lifeguards and that people are more protected.”