Sussex beach closed after discovery of headless animal

The carcass was found on Littlehampton Beach at 7.45am on Sunday (January 28).

Coastguard crews were called to the scene.

“A report was made to HM Coastguard by a member of the public about an animal carcass on Littlehampton Beach,” a Coastguard spokesperson said.

"Arun District Council was informed.”

The council confirmed it received a call early on Sunday morning to say a ‘deer carcass had been washed up’ on Littlehampton beach.

“Our cleansing team went down and wrapped up the carcass before removing it from the beach,” a spokesperson for the council said.

"It was then taken to an animal crematorium, following the usual procedure.

“It is obviously very sad to see such a beautiful creature in this condition, but we can’t surmise how its death came about or how far it had travelled in the water before being washed up.”

According to reports on social media, the beach was cordoned off to the public.

An eye-witness wrote on Facebook: “It’s a deer. The waste disposal man had come to pick it up.

"It had been cordoned off to the public by then.

"Apparently it happens quite a lot. They fall into the river further upstream and get washed out to sea.

"He was waiting for protective clothing and the right waste disposal van to pick it up.”