Girl, 6, dies after family killed in sea off Shoreham

Family of Four Lost in Tragic Sea Incident Near Shoreham, West Sussex

Constantvpn.com – A British family visiting the Sussex coast from London lost four lives in a single afternoon when they became trapped in rough water off a small beach near Shoreham Port. The youngest victim, a six-year-old girl named Saja El-Khawas, was pulled from the sea by rescue crews but later died in hospital. Her father, mother, and teenage sister were pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate resuscitation attempts by paramedics.

The incident unfolded on a Tuesday afternoon at Kingston Beach, a stretch of shoreline situated just a short walk from the historic Shoreham Fort and the working harbour of Shoreham Port. Shoreham-by-Sea sits roughly 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of Brighton, making it a popular day-trip destination for families from the capital and surrounding areas. On this particular day, the El-Khawas family had driven down from their London home specifically to spend time at the coast.

Timeline of the Afternoon

According to police, the family entered the water from the beach at Shoreham Fort at approximately 14:00 BST. Around forty minutes later, at roughly 14:40, emergency services received a call reporting four people in difficulty in the sea. A large-scale multi-agency response was mounted within minutes, drawing in HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), South East Coast Ambulance Service, and Sussex Police.

Saja was recovered from the water by emergency crews and transported to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his wife Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara were all confirmed dead at the scene. Paramedics worked continuously to resuscitate the three adults and the teenager, but their efforts proved unsuccessful.

Police Investigation and Official Response

Sussex Police confirmed the family had travelled from London to visit the Shoreham area that day. In a public statement, the force outlined what was known at the time of publication:

“The investigation into the incident remains open, but following review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, the current hypothesis is that this was a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement.”

The force added that a formal file would be compiled for the coroner in preparation for a subsequent inquest into the deaths.

Chief Superintendent James Collis addressed the community and the wider public in a statement released after Saja’s death was confirmed:

“This heartbreaking update is one we all feared in the aftermath of Tuesday’s tragic events.”

“The impact of this tragedy has been felt across the country, and I know the Shoreham community, emergency responders and all involved will continue to be affected for a long time to come.”

“I would like to thank all of the public who have shared their sympathies and kind words.”

The Family’s Background

The El-Khawas family were British citizens of Palestinian origin, based in London. Their ancestral roots trace back to the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon, a settlement established in the 1940s for Palestinian displaced persons. The extended family has maintained a presence in the United Kingdom for many years, according to the Palestinian Forum, a London-based advocacy organisation representing Palestinian communities in Britain.

Their decision to drive down to the Sussex coast for a family outing made the loss all the more devastating — a routine weekend plan that ended in catastrophe within hours.

Community Reaction and Tributes

Residents of Shoreham gathered at the beach in the days following the incident, leaving bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes, and other personal tributes along the shoreline where the family had entered the water. The Beach Residents’ Association, a local body representing households in the Shoreham area, said the event had

“sent shockwaves across the local community.”

Joss Loader, a local councillor who represents the Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association and has lived in the area for most of her life, described the deaths as a

“shocking, heart-rending tragedy.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a brief statement calling the incident a

“terrible family tragedy.”

Local Context: Shoreham’s Coastline and Hazards

Shoreham’s coastline, while popular with families and holidaymakers, sits adjacent to a major commercial port and a tidal estuary. The waters around Shoreham Fort and Kingston Beach can shift quickly, with strong tidal currents and shifting sandbanks creating conditions that can overwhelm even confident swimmers within minutes. The area’s proximity to Brighton means it draws large numbers of visitors, particularly on warm summer days, when casual beachgoers may underestimate the power of the tide.

The Shoreham Fort itself is a Grade II-listed coastal defence structure dating to the early nineteenth century, now a landmark visible from much of the beach. Its presence marks the point where the family entered the water that afternoon.

The coroner’s inquest, once formally opened, will examine the precise circumstances of the incident, including tidal conditions at the time, whether any safety signage or warnings were in place, and the sequence of events leading to the family becoming trapped in the water. Until that process concludes, police have asked the public to continue to respect the privacy of the bereaved family.