Body found in search for teenage swimmer missing off Camber Sands
Search and rescue operation underway for man who was last seen floundering in the water
A BODY has been found in a tragic end to the search for a missing swimmer who struggled in the sea off the coast of East Sussex.
Emergency services worked for several hours to find the man, who got into trouble in water off Camber Sands.
Tragic photos of a body bag being taken from the beach by police have now emerged, though it is yet to be confirmed whether the body belongs to the missing swimmer.
Two other men, aged 19 and 30, were airlifted to hospital after being resuscitated on the beach.
They are both believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
The three swimmers prompted a major search and rescue operation after they were seen floundering in the water.
It is believed they were caught by a riptide.
Early reports they were stung by a school of jellyfish have been confirmed by Sussex Police as being totally untrue.
Search teams from Dungeness and Rye, Coastguard rescue helicopters from Lydd and Solent, an RNLI lifeboat, beach lifeguards, and police, are searching for the missing person last seen in the water.
The other two swimmers are in the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent.
John Marlow, 47, of Chorley, Lancashire, said: 'My wife and two children were paddling. Two teenagers were swimming behind them and the tide came in fast.
"The lifeboat and helicopter arrived and the two lads waved them away indicating they were okay.
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"Then the helicopter lowered a man and picked someone else out of the water, and landed on the beach.
"They were resuscitating him as the tide was still coming in, he was taken away by chopper.
"The lady in the shop by the beach said two had drowned and more were being treated, I can't confirm it though.
"Two people were on stretchers in two ambulances in the car park."
Mr Marlow who is on a family holiday, said there were "no flags" indicating any dangers but a notice in the car park indicated high tide would be at 2.40pm.
In a message posted online he said: "F**king hell... two dead three critical condition and its still ongoing. Two air ambulances, one police chopper, seven ambulances, police cars and coastguard everywhere.
"We have come away now. It was awful. More helicopters arriving.";
The ambulance service was called at roughly 12.40pm to reports people were struggling in the water.