Family of Four Struck by Tragedy in Shoreham-by-Sea Waters
Constantvpn.com – A quiet stretch of coastline near Shoreham Fort in West Sussex became the scene of a devastating family tragedy on Tuesday, when a mother, father, and their teenage daughter went into difficulty in the sea and were unable to be brought back safely. Sara El-Khawas, aged 14, lost her life alongside her parents, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, in what Sussex Police describe as a tragic accident with no third-party involvement.
The family, British citizens of Palestinian origin with ancestral roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon, had travelled from London to the Sussex coast on the very day of the incident. A younger sister of Sara remains in hospital in critical condition, police confirmed on Thursday. Two additional children from the family were on the shore at the time of the accident and are now being cared for by an uncle, according to the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
School Pays Tribute to “Sweet Girl”
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London, where Sara was a pupil, issued a statement on its website describing her as a “sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students.” Head teacher Rachel Kruger addressed the school community directly:
“We are deeply saddened by this, and our thoughts are with her family, friends and all those affected. Our focus is now on supporting staff and students who have been affected by this.”
The school’s response underscores how a single family’s loss can ripple through an entire educational community, requiring pastoral care for dozens of students and staff who knew the teenager day to day.
Police Response and Investigation
Sussex Police confirmed that the three deaths resulted from the family getting into difficulty in the sea near Shoreham Fort. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Court, speaking on BBC Radio Sussex, described the incident as “utterly, utterly tragic” and commended the professionalism of officers and other emergency services who responded to the scene, saying the operation was “really professionally managed.”
Court also acknowledged the secondary trauma faced by relatives who had to be told the worst news. Two other children, who had been on the shore when the accident occurred, were among those who had to receive devastating information from investigators.
“We shouldn’t forget that as part of that investigation we have to break the bad news to those families, and that is utterly traumatic for those families to receive that news, and for those who have to break it to them.”
The investigation continues, though police have indicated they believe no criminal element is involved. The circumstances remain under review as standard procedure following any fatality in open water.
Community and Faith Leaders Mourn
Floral tributes were laid near Kingston Beach in Shoreham on Thursday morning, a visible reminder of how quickly a coastal community gathers around shared grief. Taher Aziz, of the Adur Muslim Centre, voiced the shock felt across the local faith community:
“We will be praying for the deceased and for the swift recovery of the young girl in hospital.”
Aziz added that the community was “shocked to learn of the loss of three members of a family, and the critical condition of the surviving young girl,” calling for continued prayers for both the departed and the child still fighting for her life in hospital.
The Palestinian Forum in Britain provided background on the family, confirming their British citizenship and Palestinian heritage. The Palestinian embassy in London separately told the BBC that Hassan El-Khawas had previously been a refugee, a detail that adds a further layer of personal history to the family’s story.
Government Response and Open-Water Safety
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the incident publicly, describing it as “a terrible family tragedy” and using the moment to warn the wider public about the dangers of swimming in open water. His remarks came as a reminder that coastal waters in southern England, while popular for recreation, carry genuine risks from currents, cold shock, and sudden changes in conditions — hazards that can overwhelm even experienced swimmers within seconds.
Shoreham-by-Sea, a small town in West Sussex, draws visitors to its beaches and historic fortifications throughout the year. The area around Shoreham Fort and Kingston Beach is a popular spot for families and walkers, but the open sea beyond the shoreline presents conditions that differ sharply from enclosed pools or managed swimming areas. Authorities regularly advise that anyone entering open coastal water should do so with awareness of local currents, weather, and their own swimming ability.
A Younger Sister Fights for Life
While tributes and official statements mark the three who have died, attention now turns to the younger girl still in critical condition in hospital. Her condition, confirmed by police on Thursday, represents an ongoing uncertainty for the extended family and community members who are gathering around her. The two other children, now in the care of an uncle, face their own process of adjustment and grief in the immediate aftermath.
The full circumstances of how the family entered the water and what sequence of events led to the accident remain under investigation. Until further details emerge, the community’s focus rests on supporting those left behind and honouring the memory of Sara, Hassan, and Zeina El-Khawas.
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