Key Points:
- Six-year-old Saja El-Khawas has passed away in hospital three days after being rescued from the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea.
- Her parents, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, alongside her 14-year-old sister, Sara El-Khawas, died at the scene.
- The British-Palestinian family of four had travelled from their home in London for a day trip to the West Sussex coast.
- Emergency services, HM Coastguard, and the RNLI carried out a multi-agency response after the family entered difficulty near Shoreham Fort.
- Sussex Police confirmed that investigations and CCTV reviews indicate a tragic accident with no third-party involvement.
- Community leaders from the Palestinian Forum in Britain and the Association of Palestinians Communities in the UK have paid tribute to the family.
London, UK (West London News) August 22, 2026 – A six-year-old girl has died in hospital three days after her parents and teenage sister drowned during a family trip to the West Sussex coast. Saja El-Khawas had remained in a critical condition at a London hospital following the incident on Tuesday, 18 August. As reported by Natalia Bueno Rebolledo of Reuters, Sussex Police confirmed that the young girl succumbed to her injuries on Friday evening. Her death follows the losses of her father, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, her mother, Zeina Alayn, 37, and her 14-year-old sister, Sara El-Khawas, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after being recovered from the water by emergency services.
What Happened During the Incidents at Shoreham Beach?
As reported by ITV News, the family of four had travelled down from their residence in London to visit the coast at Shoreham-by-Sea. Investigators established that the family entered the sea from the beach near Shoreham Fort at around 2:00 pm before experiencing rapid difficulties.
Emergency services were alerted at approximately 2:40 pm to reports of four individuals struggling in the water near Kingston Beach, prompting a extensive multi-agency rescue effort involving HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Sussex Police, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service.
As reported by Sky News and the BBC, lifeboats successfully recovered all four individuals from the water. Rescuers provided immediate medical care on the shore, but Hassan El-Khawas, Zeina Alayn, and Sara El-Khawas could not be revived.
Saja El-Khawas was stabilized at the scene before being airlifted to hospital in critical condition, where she fought for her life under intensive medical care before passing away.
How Are Authorities and Community Groups Responding to the Tragedy?
As reported by ITV News, Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police stated: “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. The thoughts of all at Sussex Police remain with the family’s loved ones as we work with our partners, including HM Coroner, to understand exactly how this incident occurred.”
Police confirmed that a review of local CCTV footage alongside initial witness statements has led officers to treat the incident as a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. A detailed file is being prepared for HM Coroner ahead of a formal inquest.
Legal representatives acting on behalf of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the Palestinian Forum in Britain jointly confirmed Saja’s passing. As reported by Adnan Hmidan, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, the organisation expressed deep shock over the loss:
“The Palestinian, Arab and wider community in Britain, along with the many friends and supporters of our community, have been deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident involving the Khawas family during a day trip. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, who are facing an unimaginable loss.”
According to statements provided by the Palestinian Embassy in London, Mr Hassan El-Khawas was born in the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon before moving to the United Kingdom, where he and his family gained British citizenship.
As reported by Nehad Khanfar, head of the Association of Palestinians Communities in the UK, to The National, the family were well-established in London and active members of the British-Palestinian diaspora. Extended family members in Lebanon and the UK are currently receiving support from close friends and community leaders.
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Background of Coastal Water Incidents in West Sussex
The coastline around Shoreham Fort and the entrance to Shoreham Port presents specific hydrodynamic hazards, including steep shingle slopes, strong tidal currents, and unpredictable rip currents created by harbor structures.
Shoreham Fort sits adjacent to the mouth of the River Adur, where outgoing river flows meet sea tides, creating severe undertows that can quickly overwhelm swimmers of any ability level. Coastal safety authorities in West Sussex routinely monitor water conditions around coastal structures, issuing seasonal advisories regarding shifting tides and sudden drop-offs.
Predictions for Beach Safety Policy and British-Palestinian Community Support
This tragic incident is anticipated to impact local coastal safety policy and community support structures in several distinct ways:
- Increased Public Water Safety Measures: Local councils across the West Sussex coastline are expected to review warning signage, lifebuoy accessibility, and lifeguard patrol coverage around high-risk zones such as Shoreham Fort and river mouth access points to prevent similar incidents.
- National Water Safety Awareness Campaigns: Coastal safety bodies, including the RNLI and Coastguard, are likely to intensify targeted awareness campaigns focusing on day-trippers visiting coastal beaches from inland metropolitan areas, emphasizing the dangers of local tide dynamics and rip currents.
- Mobilisation of Diaspora Support Networks: British-Palestinian and Arab community organisations across the UK will scale up support initiatives, providing grief counseling, legal assistance, and logistics coordination for the surviving extended family members both in the United Kingdom and at the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon.
