Emergency services have been called to Shoreham Port this afternoon as four people have got into difficulty, police have confirmed.
Police have closed off the area as the public have been urged to “stay away.”
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “A section of the A259 in Shoreham has been closed as the incident remains ongoing, and we’re urging the public to stay clear of the area in the meantime.”
Sussex Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Shoreham RNLI and HM Coastguard have all responded to the incident.
A spokesman for the Air Ambulance Charity in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (AAKSS) says it sent both of its helicopters and critical care team to the scene of the incident today “as part of the coordinated emergency response”.
The emergency services were called to the port at 15:00 BST.
The Coastguard has said in a statement, it “responded to an incident reported at Shoreham at about 2.45pm.
“An HM Coastguard helicopter was sent as well as Littlehampton, Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, and an RNLI lifeboat from Shoreham,” the spokesperson added.
A large emergency service presence remains at the scene as the incident is ongoing
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Labour MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tom Rutland has taken to social media to express his “deep concern.”
He said: “I am deeply concerned by the reports of a number of people getting into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Harbour this afternoon.
“My thoughts are with everyone involved and their loved ones at what will undoubtedly be an extremely worrying time.
“Our emergency services, including Sussex Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard, Shoreham RNLI and our local air ambulance are responding to the incident.
“A section of the A259 has been closed while the response continues. I would urge local residents & members of the public to stay away from the area and to follow the instructions of the emergency services, so that they can carry out their work safely & without obstruction.
“I have reached out to the police for further information, but this is an ongoing incident and the priority of emergency services should of course be responding to the incident.”
A local resident, Pete Book told the BBC that he was “walking home from the pub” when he “saw and heard the Coastguard helicopter circling over the lifeboat station on the beach.
“As I neared home, a yellow air ambulance helicopter landed. There were a lot of ambulances, Coastguard and police vehicles converging on the area, and the coast road was closed.
“An orange-and-white air ambulance then landed, and the Coastguard helicopter flew off.”
He added that the road is still closed and there are still “lots of emergency responders and helicopters at the scene.
“The lifeboat had also launched and was being returned to the station.”