Six-year-old girl dies after being pulled from sea in Shoreham
Saja El-Khawas, six, died in hospital on Friday, days after her parents and 14-year-old sister were pulled from the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex and pronounced dead.
A six-year-old girl has died in hospital after being pulled from the sea alongside three family members in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Saja El-Khawas died on Friday, following the deaths of her parents, Hassan El-Khawas and Zeina Alayn, and her 14-year-old sister Sara, who were pronounced dead on Tuesday after the incident on the beach.
Saja had been in a critical condition in hospital since the rescue. The family were recovered from the water together, and emergency services were called to the scene on the south coast of England. Police have not released further details about the circumstances of the incident, which remains under investigation.
The family are understood to be Palestinian refugees. Saja was the daughter of a Palestinian refugee, and the deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief in the local community and beyond. Tributes have been left at the beach in Shoreham-by-Sea, where the incident took place, with flowers and messages paying respect to the family.
Sussex Police are continuing to investigate the events that led to the family being in the water. The force has not indicated any suspicious circumstances, and the focus remains on establishing the full timeline of what happened. The local authority and community support services have been offering assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
The incident has drawn attention to the dangers of the sea along the Sussex coast, particularly during periods of warm weather when beaches attract large numbers of visitors. Shoreham-by-Sea is a popular spot for families, and the deaths have shocked residents and regular beachgoers. Local officials have expressed their condolences and urged the public to respect water safety advice.
The deaths of the El-Khawas family have also resonated internationally, given their background as refugees. The family's story has been reported across the UK and abroad, highlighting the human cost of such tragedies. The Palestinian community in Britain has been particularly affected, with vigils and memorial gatherings being organised in their memory.
As the investigation continues, the authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The beach remains open to the public, but signs have been placed reminding visitors of the risks. The tragedy has renewed calls for enhanced safety measures at the coastline, including better signage and lifeguard coverage.
The family's deaths have left a deep void in the community, and support networks are rallying to provide assistance to relatives and friends. The hospital where Saja died has declined to comment further, citing patient confidentiality. The focus now is on supporting those who knew the family and ensuring that lessons are learned from this devastating event.
