Storm Austen waves topple section of Brighton's historic West Pier
A large section of Brighton's derelict West Pier collapsed into the sea on Friday as waves from Storm Austen battered England's south coast, witnesses said.
Part of Brighton's West Pier gave way and fell into the sea on Friday, battered by waves whipped up as Storm Austen swept the English south coast, the Evening Standard reported. Online video showed the structure's right-hand side crashing down into the water.
Local resident Simon Haffenden filmed the moment while recording the size of the waves, and told the BBC he found the sound and sight of the collapse shocking even though he was glad to have captured it.
Kate Phillips, of the West Pier Trust, which looks after what remains of the structure, said she expected the central section to hold, adding: "I have faith in it, I have faith in Victorian infrastructure."
Storm Austen caused widespread disruption across the UK on Friday, with gusts reaching 80mph around the south coast, the Evening Standard reported.
Built in 1866 and extended in 1893 with an ornate pavilion, the pier carries Grade I listed status, Italy's Il Post reported, the highest tier of protection given to a historic building in England. Closed to the public since 1975 on safety grounds, it had already lost sections to storms in December 2002 and to fires the following year.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Il Post, Evening Standard +4Disputed A large section of Brighton's West Pier collapsed into the sea on Friday as Storm Austen battered the English south coast.
- 1 outlet · The Independent No injuries were reported.
- 1 outlet · The Independent A member of the West Pier Trust said she believed the rest of the structure would withstand the storm.
- 2+ outlets · Evening Standard, The Independent +1 The Grade I listed pier opened in 1866, closed to the public in 1975, and had already lost sections to storms in 2002 and fires in 2003.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The West Pier, though closed since 1975, remains one of Brighton's best-known landmarks alongside the still-functioning Palace Pier, and English Heritage previously declared the structure beyond repair after earlier storm and fire damage. Friday's collapse is the latest loss to a monument that once drew two million visitors a year at its peak.
Sources
Reported by 6 reports from 6 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- Il Post: Il crollo di un pezzo del West Pier, il famoso molo di Brighton, durante una tempesta
- Evening Standard: Part of Brighton's West Pier collapses into the sea as Storm Austen batters UK
- Het Nieuwsblad: Deel van bekende pier in Brighton in zee gestort door storm Austen
- The Independent: Storm Austen: Brighton’s West Pier partially collapses as 110mph winds batter UK – with more severe weather on way
- Daily Mirror: Brighton's historic West Pier crumbles into the sea as Storm Austen batters UK coast
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What happened to Brighton's West Pier?
- A large section collapsed into the sea on Friday as waves from Storm Austen battered the English south coast.
- Was anyone hurt?
- No injuries were reported.
- Why was the pier already derelict?
- It closed to the public in 1975 over safety concerns and was further damaged by storms in 2002 and fires in 2003.
This article was written with AI assistance from 7 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.