A 14-year-old girl, her parents, and their younger daughter were involved in a tragedy off the coast of West Sussex. Sara El-Khawas, 14, and her parents, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, drowned while swimming in Shoreham-by-Sea around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Sea conditions were choppy at the time.
Their younger daughter, Saja, remains in critical condition at a local hospital. The family were British citizens of Palestinian origin who had relocated to the UK from the Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon. The Palestinian embassy confirmed Hassan El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee.
The family had traveled from their home in northwest London for a day trip to Shoreham. Neighbors described the family, who had lived in their two-bedroom council flat for ten years, as warm and close. One neighbor recalled Hassan El-Khawas mentioning their seaside outing just days before the incident. Another neighbor stated that Hassan El-Khawas had worked as a builder and was known for his friendly demeanor.
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, where Sara was a student, released a tribute describing her as a "sweet girl" who was "well-liked by staff and students." The school noted that Sara would be "greatly missed" and offered condolences to her family and friends. The school is providing additional support to students and staff affected by the news.
Eyewitnesses reported that one of the girls may have become entangled in a fishing net, prompting a fisherman to pull one of the children from the water and raise the alarm. Eight ambulances responded to the scene following the incident.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but police currently believe it to be a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. The Palestinian Forum in Britain also issued a statement mourning the loss of the family and praying for the recovery of their surviving daughter.