Couple and teenage daughter who died in water off Shoreham named by police
Police say the family travelled from their home in London and went into the sea for a swim.
Three members of a family were named by police after they tragically drowned in the sea off Shoreham. The victims were identified as Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his wife Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas. A younger girl from the same family is currently in a critical condition at the hospital. The family had traveled from London to Shoreham to visit their relatives.
Sussex Police stated that the deaths were a tragic accident with no involvement from a third party. The Palestinian Forum confirmed that the family were British citizens of Palestinian origin, hailing from the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon. Local community members expressed their shock and sadness over the incident, while the Palestinian Embassy in London offered condolences to the family and the UK's Palestinian community, wishing the hospitalized girl a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham cautioned the public about the dangers of open water swimming, emphasizing the coldness of the water even during hot weather. Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident near Shoreham Fort, with multiple agencies including coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, air ambulances, police officers, and ambulance teams involved in the rescue efforts.
The community gathered floral tributes near the beach, highlighting the profound impact on the Shoreham area and the broader British-Palestinian community.
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