The father of three sisters who tragically lost their lives in the sea off Brighton this May has spoken of his "unbearable" pain as their family gathered for their funeral in north-west London. Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, died in an incident on 13 May that police have described as tragic. In a poignant message included in the order of service, their father, Joseph Jacobson, wrote: "You were more than my daughters: you were my joy, my strength and the beautiful light that filled my life with love."
His message continued, describing the immense sorrow: "No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives. There are moments when it feels unbearable, but I hold tightly to the memories we shared, the love we knew and the bond that nothing can ever take away." He paid individual tribute to each daughter, remembering Jane's strength, Tina's kindness, and Becky's warmth and joyful spirit.
Their remaining sister, Lilian, also shared her grief in the order of service, writing simply: "We were four, and now I am one." Speaking on behalf of the family at the service, their cousin, Natalie Walters-Daniel, highlighted their accomplishments: "Together they accomplished so much. They pursued their education, they built careers, they created lives that reflected the values their parents instilled in them." She confirmed that Jane Adetoro was a senior accountant, Christina Walters a junior accountant, and Rebecca Walters an HR administrator.
An inquest into the sisters' deaths was opened at Brighton & Hove Coroner's Court on 29 May. Senior coroner Penelope Schofield expressed hope that the inquest would help to curb social media speculation surrounding the circumstances of their deaths. Sussex Police have stated they are satisfied there was no third-party involvement and are conducting a thorough investigation, reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, to understand how and why the women came to be at the beach that morning. The women, all born in Luton, were living together in Greenford, London, at the time of their deaths.
Emergency services were called to Madeira Drive at approximately 05:45 BST on 13 May after reports of a person in the water. The bodies of Jane Adetoro and Christina Walters were recovered by the RNLI, while Rebecca Walters' body washed ashore nearby. Their father formally identified their bodies. The ongoing police investigation aims to build a comprehensive picture of the events leading to the tragedy.