'Dedicated and popular' London police officer drowns off coast of Brighton

“Caring and generous”: Steven Williams with his friend Lauren Grey who praised emergency service crews for doing an amazing job in trying to save his life

A policeman who drowned in the sea was a “dedicated” and “popular” officer whose death had been felt by his whole force, friends and colleagues said today.

Steven Williams, 29, a British Transport Police officer based in Finsbury Park, was pulled from the sea in Brighton in the early hours of Monday.

A major rescue operation was launched involving lifeboats, coastguards, fire crews, police, paramedics and a helicopter after a woman saw Mr Williams enter the water near Kings Road Arches and raised the alarm.

He was pulled from the sea at 1.40am and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead 20 minutes later at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Family and colleagues today paid tribute to Mr Williams, who had been in the pan-London response team for two years after being in the RAF.

Friend Lauren Grey has set up an online fundraising page in his memory which today had raised more than £4,200 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

She said Mr Williams was “one of the most caring” and “most generous” people she had ever met. She added: “Steven was always a big fan of the RNLI and donated to them himself. They hold a place very close to his heart, mine and all his family.”

She said the emergency services were “truly amazing” and did “all they could” to save Mr Williams’s life. In a statement, Williams’s family said: “It is with deep regret that we as a family were informed that our beloved son Steven Williams died following a tragic accident at Brighton in the early hours of Monday morning.

“Steven will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues and always loved.”

Colleague Starbuck Coleman, who described the incident as an “unfortunate accident”, said: “He was a very dedicated police officer who loved doing what he was doing.

“He was very enthusiastic, was always put up for calls and was someone who you wanted to see arrive at a scene. He was a very professional police officer and he was a pleasure to work with.

“He was a real character and everyone knew who he was. He talked about his time in the RAF a lot and he really enjoyed being a police officer.”

Another colleague said: “He was known for being a real character. It’s been a total shock to all of us.”

Sussex Police are not treating the death as suspicious. A post-mortem examination will be carried out for the East Sussex coroner before an inquest.

Paul Crowther, chief constable of the BTP, said: “He will be terribly missed by his colleagues and friends here. His death, even for those who didn’t know him personally, will be felt across the force.”

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