A WEEKEND away ended in tragedy when Christchurch carpenter Geoffrey Allen was found dead in the sea.

Mr Allen’s body washed up on the beach in front of families last Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the scene, at Hove in Sussex, and police have since said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

It is believed his body could have been in the sea for 12 hours.

Former Twynham School student Mr Allen, who ran Allen Carpentry based at Bure Homage Gardens in Mudeford, was part of a close-knit family who have paid tribute to him on social media. 

His body was seen floating in the sea and then on the beach at Hove, two miles from Brighton Pier. Hundreds of people were at the coast enjoying the warm weather at the time and emergency services were alerted by a tourist.

A spokesman for Sussex Police told the Daily Echo: “At about 2.30pm on Sunday, emergency services were called to a report of a body floating in the sea at Hove.

“Police, paramedics and lifeguards attended the scene at Kings Esplanade and a man’s body was recovered from the water.

The victim, believed to be in his 30s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.”

A spokesman for the Brighton and Hove coroner said an investigation is under way.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on Monday, August 8.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “It appears that the body had been in the water for over 12 hours and possibly entered the sea in the early hours of the morning.”