A student who drowned off the coast of Brighton waded into the sea after drinking at bars and nightclubs, an inquest has heard.
Betty Griffiths had been out on the town with a friend on April 15 on the East Sussex coast when she left a club and entered the water.
The 21-year-old, whose inquest opened at Horsham Coroner’s Court today, sparked an enormous search-and-rescue operation involving lifeboats, coastguard helicopters, police and ambulance crews.
Tragically, her body was found further along the Brighton shoreline following an hours-long search and she was declared dead upon arrival at hospital.
The inquest heard that Ms Griffiths, from Lewes, entered the water shortly after 3.30am after leaving a club on Brighton’s promenade.
Coroner’s Officer Ken Jewel said: ‘Betty had been out in Brighton with a friend.
‘They had been to a nightclub and had been drinking.
‘Betty decided to go into the sea – she entered the water around 0339.’
Student Betty Griffiths died after walking into the sea following a night out with a friend in Brighton, an inquest has heard (Pictured: search and rescue workers looking for Ms Griffiths)
Lifeboats, coastguard, police and ambulance crews were involved in the search (Pictured: A helicopter during the operation)
An ambulance was called when Ms Griffiths did not re-emerge from the water – with multiple agencies then assisting further.
Lifeboat crews from Brighton and Shoreham RNLI were deployed alongside Coastguard rescue crews from nearby Shoreham and Newhaven.
A Coastguard helicopter also assisted with the search in the area around the iconic Brighton Palace Pier.
Flight data showed it flew in from Portsmouth to assist with the search at 3am, performing a number of flyovers of the water until around 5.30am.
Following an extensive search by coastguard, Betty was found at Black Rock on Brighton seafront.
Death was confirmed at Royal Sussex County Hospital at 9.28am after she was rushed there by ambulance.
A post mortem examination gave provisional cause of death as cardiac arrest and drowning.
Assistant Coroner Joanne Andrews adjourned the inquest until July and asked for reports from police and medical service.
‘I will ask my coroner’s officers to obtain statement from the family on her background,’ Ms Andrews said.
A spokesperson for the South East Coast Ambulance Service previously told MailOnline crews were called in at 3.40am after receiving reports of a person in need of medical attention.
The patient was assessed as being in ‘very serious condition’, treated and then taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital, they added.
Sussex Police said in a statement issued before the inquest: ‘Police were called following concerns for a woman in the sea off the coast of Brighton just before 3am on Wednesday, April 16.
‘Emergency services responded to the scene and the woman, in her 20s and from Lewes, was taken to hospital where she was sadly pronounced deceased.
‘Her next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. There are no suspicious circumstances.’
Brighton Coastguard said in a public statement: ‘In the early hours of (April 16), our volunteer crew launched in response to reports of a person in the water near Brighton Palace Pier.
‘Working alongside lifeboats from Shoreham RNLI, Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, a coastguard helicopter, and other emergency services, a search was carried out.
‘Sadly, a woman in her 20s was later confirmed to have died. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Thank you to everyone involved in the response.’
