Funeral for five friends who died at Camber Sands

Credit: ITV News

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of five young friends who died during a day trip to Camber Sands.

Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, was the youngest of the group who travelled from London to East Sussex last month.

The five died after becoming caught in strong currents on the popular beach.

A Hindu funeral for Kenugen and his 22-year-old brother Kobikanthan, of Erith, and friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, began at dawn on Sunday.

The funeral began at dawn Credit: ITV News
Credit: ITV News
Credit: ITV News

The ceremony, taking place at Plumstead Common, south east London, included petal laying.

Hundreds of people attended, while friends and relatives wept as the coffins were carried into marquee tents before mourners walked around and paid their respects.

Credit: ITV News
Credit: ITV News
Credit: ITV News
Credit: ITV News

Councillor Krishna Suresh, former mayor of Harrow, said what happened was "a big tragedy for the Tamil community".

Following their deaths, relatives of the men criticised the lack of lifeguards at Camber and suggested they may have stood a chance of survival if the beach had been manned.

The incident came just days after six people were killed across the UK in separate coastline incidents where strong winds and rain wreaked havoc.

Credit: ITV News