💔 Family Day At The Beach Turns Into Horror As Pal...

💔 Family Day At The Beach Turns Into Horror As Palestinian Father, Partner And 14-Year-Old Daughter Drown While Trying To Save Younger Child From The Sea

Palestinian Refugee, Partner and Teenage Daughter Drown in Shoreham Sea Tragedy as Younger Child Fights for Life

A Palestinian refugee, his partner and their 14-year-old daughter drowned off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea after entering the water in an attempt to help a younger family member who got into difficulty. A fourth member of the family, a young girl, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Hassan El-Khawas, 55, Zeina Alyan (also referred to as Zeina Alayn), 37, and their daughter Sara El-Khawas, 14, died on Tuesday afternoon, 18 August 2026. The family had travelled from their home in London to the West Sussex coast for the day. They entered the water near Shoreham Fort at around 2pm.

Desperate Rescue Attempts

According to accounts emerging after the tragedy, the younger girl got into difficulty in the waves. Hassan, Zeina and Sara entered the water in a frantic effort to reach her. All four were eventually recovered by lifeboat crews and brought ashore, but three could not be saved.

A major emergency response was launched after a girl was spotted struggling in the sea. Two helicopters, eight ambulances, RNLI lifeboat crews, HM Coastguard and police raced to the scene. Beachgoers watched in horror as responders carried out CPR on the shore. Despite the rapid and determined efforts of the emergency services, Hassan, Zeina and Sara were confirmed dead at the scene.

The younger girl was taken to hospital and remains in a critical condition.

Family Background

The Palestinian Embassy in London confirmed that Hassan El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee originally from the Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon. The family were British citizens of Palestinian origin. Two other children from the family, named in some reports as Yusuf and Malak, were on the shore at the time and are being cared for by relatives.

Sara attended Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London. In a statement, the school described her as a “sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students” and said staff and pupils were deeply saddened by the news.

Police Investigation

Sussex Police have said the current working hypothesis, based on CCTV and initial witness accounts, is that the deaths were a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. An investigation remains open as officers work with the coroner to establish the full circumstances.

Chief Superintendent James Collis said: “The events of Tuesday afternoon are a heartbreaking tragedy which has devastated a family and their friends and had a profound impact on the Shoreham community. The thoughts of all at Sussex Police remain with the family’s loved ones as we work with our partners, including HM Coroner, to understand exactly how this incident occurred.

“The emergency response was significant, and I would like to thank all of the first responders for their determined attempts to save all four people, as well as the wider public for their patience during the incident.”

Local Warnings About the Conditions

Residents living near the beach have spoken of the dangers of the local waters. Anna Peacock, 81, who lives nearby, said: “People come down to swim, particularly in the summertime and I don’t think they realise there’s a riptide along here. It’s very inviting to come to the sea, but the tide could carry you out in seconds.”

Locals noted that the weather was windy and the sea appeared choppy at the time of the incident. The area around Shoreham Fort is known to have strong currents and a steep seabed in places, features that can catch even experienced swimmers off guard.

National Response

Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his sympathies while visiting the North East. “It’s so sad to hear what happened yesterday,” he said. “Obviously we think there’s a young girl still in the hospital fighting for her life, and we send our best wishes and love to wider friends and family. But a real tragedy, a real terrible family tragedy. Always, there’s more that can be done.”

He also praised the emergency services for their swift response.

A Community in Shock

Joss Loader, who represents Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association, described a “strong sense of shock” in the area. “A small tightly knit community with a very deep sense of shock and that sense of disbelief you get after a tragedy… It has come out of nowhere.”

The deaths of three members of the same family within minutes of one another have left both the Shoreham community and the family’s wider network of friends and relatives reeling. The younger girl who remains in hospital continues to fight for her life, while two other siblings face a future without their parents and older sister.

As the investigation continues and the coroner’s process begins, the focus remains on supporting the surviving family members and understanding exactly how a family day at the seaside ended in such devastating loss. The emergency services’ rapid arrival offered the best possible chance of survival, yet the power of the sea proved overwhelming.