UPDATE: woman who fell into River Arun dies

Emergency services were alerted by members of the public who reported the woman, from Goring, had entered the mouth of the River Arun from Littlehampton Pier at 2.18pm.

PC Andy Baynes, from Littlehampton Police, said: “She was carried out to sea by strong currents. A lifeboat crew and HM Coastguard officers were quickly on the scene. The RNLI crew pulled her from the rough seas and returned her to shore where she was stabilised before being taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

“Sadly, she was pronounced dead just after 9pm. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.”

The 67-year-old woman has been identified by her family, but has not yet been formally named.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious and the matter has been passed to the coroner’s officer.