Heartbreaking Final Blow: 6-Year-Old Girl Dies Days After Parents and Sister Drown in Shoreham Beach Tragedy
A six-year-old girl has died in hospital three days after a devastating sea incident that claimed the lives of her parents and older sister off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex.
Saja El-Khawas was pulled from the water in critical condition on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, alongside her father Hassan El-Khawas, 55, her mother Zeina Alayn, 37, and her 14-year-old sister Sara. The three older family members were pronounced dead at the scene despite extensive resuscitation efforts by emergency crews. Saja remained in critical care until her death was confirmed on Friday, 21 August.
The family, British citizens of Palestinian origin with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, had travelled from their home in north-west London for a day trip to the Sussex coast. They entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort around 2pm. Shortly afterwards, reports reached emergency services of four people in difficulty in the sea close to Kingston Beach and Shoreham Port.
A large-scale response followed. HM Coastguard, RNLI lifeboats, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Sussex Police, and air ambulances converged on the area. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as crews worked to bring the four ashore. Police later stated that the current working theory, based on CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, is that the deaths resulted from a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. The investigation remains open.
Accounts from the Palestinian community and local sources suggest the family encountered strong currents. One report indicated that Sara may have become entangled in a fishing net, prompting her father to attempt a rescue. The mother and younger daughter then entered the water, and conditions quickly overwhelmed them. Two other children from the family were reportedly on the shore at the time.
Neighbours in London described the El-Khawas family as warm and close-knit. Hassan worked as a builder and was known for his friendly nature. The family had lived in a modest council flat for around a decade. Sara’s school, Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, paid tribute to her as a sweet and well-liked pupil who would be greatly missed.
Floral tributes and messages of condolence quickly appeared at the beach and near the Shoreham Lifeboat Station. The local community expressed profound shock, while the Palestinian Forum in Britain and the Palestinian embassy in London conveyed deep sorrow and offered support to surviving relatives.
Water safety organisations continue to highlight the dangers of open-water swimming, particularly in areas with strong currents or unexpected hazards such as fishing nets. This incident has left an entire immediate family gone and two young siblings facing an unimaginable loss.
The deaths of Hassan, Zeina, Sara and now Saja stand as a stark reminder of how swiftly a family outing by the sea can turn into irreversible tragedy. Emergency services did everything possible, yet the sea claimed four lives within days. The Shoreham community and the wider Palestinian community in Britain continue to mourn.
