The cause of the deaths of three sisters found in the sea off Brighton beach is yet to be ascertained but police say they do not suspect foul play at this stage.

The bodies of Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, from Uxbridge, west London, were found earlier this month.

An inquest that opened in Brighton on Friday heard that postmortem examinations had offered a provisional cause of death as “yet to be ascertained”.

After their deaths, their father, Joseph Jacobson, said there were days when the grief felt “unbearable” but he held on to the memories they had shared and “the bond that death can never take away”.

The senior coroner Penelope Schofield told Jacobson, who attended the hearing online, that the loss of his daughters must be unbearable and offered condolences.

Sussex police have said there is no evidence to suggest criminality or that anyone else was involved in the incident. Specialist detectives are working to gather the full facts and circumstances around their deaths.

The coroner said she hoped the details from the hearing would stop social media speculation around the case, and she adjourned the inquest to be heard on 8 October.

In a statement released through Sussex police, Jacobson said: “Jane, Christina and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.

“Each of you was unique and precious in your own special way. Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort and your presence made life more meaningful. Though your time on Earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts for ever.”

A GoFundMe online fundraiser for the women’s funerals has received more than 2,000 donations from members of the public, totalling nearly £44,000.

Emergency services were called after concerns were raised for a person’s welfare at about 5.45am on 13 May, before three bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive.

Statements read to the inquest detailed that Adetoro was brought to shore by an RNLI crew and declared deceased by a paramedic at the scene.

Christina Walters was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat and Rebecca Walters was washed on to the beach. Both were also declared dead by paramedics.

The inquest heard that medical investigations were ongoing “to finalise the cause of death” for all three women but at this stage police were satisfied there was no third-party involvement.

The sisters lived at the same address in Greenford and their occupations were unknown, it was heard.

Sussex police say CCTV footage has been reviewed and inquiries made to businesses and properties near the beach to try to track the women’s last movements.

Ch Supt Adam Hays has said the force “will leave no stone unturned” in the investigation to understand what led to the “tragic events of that Wednesday morning”.