Overview
- A substantial right-hand section of the West Pier fell into the sea during Storm Austen at about 9.30am on Friday, October 23, 2026, as strong winds and waves battered the Sussex coast.
- Multiple videos and before-and-after photographs captured the moment the structure gave way and show more fabric of the pier has been lost compared with its pre-storm state.
- Eyewitnesses described a loud bang as debris hit the water and volunteers from the West Pier Trust said they feel sadness and uncertainty about the remaining middle section.
- Trust members and volunteers say the immediate priorities are safety assessments, managing any debris on the shoreline, and deciding whether to recover ironwork for heritage uses rather than rebuild the pier.
- The collapse adds to a long history of damage to the Victorian pier since its 1975 closure, including storm losses in 2002, two fires in 2003 and a 2016 collapse, and it has drawn public comment from nearby attraction owners and local stakeholders.