A family of Palestinian refugees drowned off the coast of West Sussex on Monday afternoon, with their younger daughter currently in critical condition. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. at Shoreham-by-Sea, where the family had been camping.
Hossam El-Khawwas, his wife, and their eldest daughter were swimming when they got into difficulty in choppy sea conditions. Eyewitnesses reported that one of the children may have become entangled in a fishing net, prompting a fisherman to raise the alarm. Emergency services, including lifeboats, ambulances, and helicopters, were dispatched to the scene.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, three individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene. The younger daughter was taken to a hospital and remains in critical condition. The Palestinian Embassy confirmed that Mr. El-Khawwas was a Palestinian refugee who had relocated to the UK from a refugee camp in Lebanon.
The Palestinian Forum in Britain issued a statement mourning the loss of the El-Khawwas family and praying for the recovery of their second daughter.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his condolences and used the incident to remind the public of the dangers of open water swimming, especially during warm weather when the water temperature can be deceptively cold. He praised the swift response of the emergency services.
Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police stated that an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy is underway. Police confirmed that all four individuals entered the water for a swim and subsequently encountered difficulties. The RNLI reported that lifeboat crews were launched shortly before 3 p.m., with additional support from the coastguard and multiple rescue teams.
Local residents expressed shock and concern, noting that while people often swim at the beach, the presence of a riptide might not be widely understood. The family had reportedly been camping on the harbour front for a couple of weeks prior to the incident.