Six-year-old girl dies after family pulled from the sea in Shoreham
The little girl died in hospital today
A six-year-old girl has died following an incident in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, where she and her three family members were pulled from the sea.
Saja El-Khawas passed away in hospital today (21/08/2026) after her sister Sara El-Khawas, 14, and their parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, died on Tuesday.
The family was on a trip from London to Shoreham when they got into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort around 2pm.
The identities and deaths of the family members were confirmed by solicitors representing Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
It is reported that Hassan El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee from Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon, an area populated by Palestinian refugees since its establishment by various agencies including the French government and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Sussex Police indicated that the incident appears to be a tragic accident with no evidence of third-party involvement, following initial reviews of CCTV footage and witness accounts.
Chief Superintendent James Collis described Tuesday's events as a "heartbreaking tragedy" impacting both the bereaved family and the Shoreham community.
Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls posted a tribute to Year 8 pupil Sara, describing her as "sweet" and "well-liked" by peers and extending condolences to those affected by the incident.
The Palestinian embassy is monitoring the situation closely while Adnan Hmidan from the Palestinian Forum in Britain expressed collective shock and sadness at the tragic loss.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham cautioned the public about the dangers of open water swimming, dubbing the incident as "a terrible family tragedy."