10 years on, remembering Dan and Freddie

Sadly, it is ten years today since the drowned body of Dan Nichols, only 23 years old, was found. In the company of friends and in the early hours of Saturday morning, he had taken up a dare to stand close by the water’s edge near Palace Pier (as it was then known). The weather was later described as ‘gale force nine and very dangerous’. A huge wave hit Dan, knocking him off his feet. He was pulled into the sea and out from the shoreline. One of his friends, Freddie Reynolds, aged 24, dived in to rescue him, but he was also swept out and away. The others tried to enter the water, but were beaten back by the waves. They had one last glimpse of Dan and Freddie together and struggling before they lost sight of them.

Local police, the Coastguard, and Sussex Search and Rescue teams scoured the shoreline from the West Pier to Saltdean Lido during the night and the next day, aided by a National Police Air Service helicopter. But it was a member of the public who found the first body, Freddie Reynolds at Saltdean, four miles east of the pier. The following morning, Dan’s body was washed up not far from that of his friend, in Rottingdean.   

Young lives cut so terribly short. 

Freddie was a very loyal and brilliant friend, his family said. He was always looking out for his friends and family and people loved to be around him. He was incredibly funny and loved a joke and a banter. Dan’s family said: ‘Dan was very bright, he was quick and witty, loved music which he both made and produced, and he enjoyed skateboarding.

Both the above photographs appeared in the Daily Mail report: Drowned for £50: Two dead after daring each other for just a few pounds to stand at the water's edge on Brighton Pier.

DCI Carwyn Hughes was quoted in The Guardian: ‘We are relieved that the bodies of the two men have been recovered. This has been a traumatic weekend for Dan and Freddie’s friends and family. What was meant to be a bit of fun turned out so tragically with Dan snatched from the water’s edge and Freddie bravely diving in to try to save him.

Our sympathies go to their families, whom we are supporting. I want to thank those who braved the terrible conditions to search night and day for the two men. The dedicated crews include coastal rescue services, volunteers from Sussex search and rescue team, seafront officers and specialist search officers. This is a tragic incident and I urge people to think of their safety and keep away from the sea when it is so dangerous.’ Dan is on the left, Freddie on the right.

Tragically, deaths associated with Brighton Beach seem all too frequent - all four of these reports appeared in the last two years.

Woman who died in sea at Brighton was ‘passionate’ space student

Body found on beach confirmed to be 21-year-old Brighton man

Man dies after going into the sea in Hove

Man’s body found washed up on beach in Hove