Petition starter Josie Holloway is calling for lifeguards on Camber Sands during the summer months when she claims there are only beach patrols.

Her petition was started on July 24 – one month before five men died in the sea at Camber Sands on the hottest day of the year – yesterday (August 24).

Three of the men were pulled from the water on Wednesday afternoon, while two more bodies were found later, the BBC reported.

Tragic: 5,000 are calling for lifeguards on Camber Sands beach during summer months

Writing on her Change.org petition Josie said: “Camber sands gets unbelievably busy during summer time they have beach patrol but no lifeguards.

“After the serious incident that has recently happened this should be a good reason to have lifeguards like they do in Bournemouth, due to the amount of people that go to the beach and I feel it could save lives”.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: “We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day.

“We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area.

Emergency: Police said the men were believed to be in their 20s and from the Greater London area

“These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

“We have no further reports of anyone else missing from Camber and there are no ongoing searches related to this incident.

“This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time.”

For more information about this petition click here or email press.uk@change.org