Body of missing Brighton woman washed ashore

The body of a woman from Brighton has been washed ashore on the beach at Cuckmere Haven.

Sussex Police said that the body had been identified as Joanna Brown, 36, of Ewart Street, Hanover.

She went missing after being swept out to sea during the gale in the early hours of Saturday 21 December.

Police, coastguard and lifeboat crews from the RNLI spent hours searching for her in stormy conditions.

She was found five days ago by a member of the public.

Sussex Police said this afternoon (Thursday 2 January): “At 8am on Saturday (28 December) a member of the public discovered the body of a woman on the beach at Cuckmere Haven.

“The body has now been identified as that of 36-year-old Joanna Brown, of Ewart Street, Brighton, who had not been seen since she ran into the sea at the beach in Brighton shortly after 2am on Saturday 21 December.

“Her reason for running into the water is still not clear but her death is not being treated as suspicious and the Brighton and Hove coroner’s officer is continuing inquiries.”