Girl, 6, dies in hospital after three family members also drowned at Shoreham

A six-year-old girl has now died after her parents and sister drowned on Tuesday

Saja El-Khawas, six, has died in hospital after she was pulled from the sea at Shoreham on Tuesday.

She was pulled out of the water alongside three of her family members who also died.

Saja had been in hospital in a critical condition after the deaths of Sara El-Khawas, 14, and her parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, on Tuesday afternoon in Shoreham-by-Sea.

Her death has been confirmed via a legal notice from solicitors acting on behalf of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, as well as by the Palestinian Forum in Britain.

The Palestinian embassy previously said Mr El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.

It is believed the family travelled from their home in London to visit Shoreham and entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort at around 2pm before they got into difficulty.

The family members were pulled from the sea at Shoreham (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Tributes have been laid at the beach for Sara El-Khawas and her parents Hassan El-Khawas and Zeina Alayn (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Due to strong currents, Sarah became caught in a fishing net.

Her father tried to flee her, prompting her mother to enter the water when he, too, started struggling. She was followed by Saja.

The PFB explained earlier this week that, sadly, the conditions proved ‘overwhelming’, leading to their deaths.

A huge emergency response was triggered by the incident, with several ambulances and two air ambulances sent to the scene.

An HM Coastguard helicopter and rescue teams from nearby Littlehampton, Newhaven and Shoreham, as well as the RNLI lifeboat, also attended.

Witnesses described ‘mayhem’ unfolding as they heard the sirens and saw responders flocking to the beach.

Mr El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon

Local woman Anna Peacock, 81, who lives near Kingston Beach across the water, explained that conditions appeared choppy.

‘It was terribly sad to know that just across the road people have lost their lives,’ she said.

‘People come down to swim, particularly in the summertime, and I don’t think they realise there’s a riptide along here.

‘It’s very inviting to come to the sea, but the tide could carry you out in seconds, and I don’t think people have realised that.’

On Wednesday, Sussex Police said their investigation remains open, but after a review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, it is currently thought the deaths were a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement.

Chief Superintendent James Collis said: ‘The events of Tuesday afternoon are a heartbreaking tragedy which has devastated a family and their friends and had a profound impact on the Shoreham community.’

Yesterday, Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, which Sara attended, posted a tribute on its website.

The school in Ealing said of the Year 8 pupil: ‘Sara was a sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students, and she will be greatly missed.

‘Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends, and all those affected.

‘This news will be deeply upsetting for many students, families and staff.’

Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the PFB, had also previously said the community was ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ by the deaths.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, particularly the children, who are facing an unimaginable loss,’ he said.

The community had been praying for Saja’s recovery.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has further stressed the dangers of open-water swimming in light of the ‘terrible family tragedy’.

Asked on a visit to the North East whether the government needed to do more on water safety, he replied: ‘Always.’

‘The thing I can say today – and there is still, I think, a further heatwave to come in this summer period – is just to remind people about the dangers of open water swimming,’ Burnham continued.

‘The coldness, even when it feels hot outside, it can shock people, and that can cause the difficulties. So people just need to remember that at all times.’

Sending ‘best wishes and love’ to the wider family as they grieve, he praised the emergency services for how quickly they arrived on-scene.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Comments Add as preferred source