Six-year-old girl dies in hospital days after three family members drowned at UK beach

A six-year-old girl has died in hospital after she was pulled from the sea alongside three family members who died in West Sussex.

The law firm acting for the hospital and the Palestinian Forum in Britain said Saja El-Khawas died on Friday following the deaths of her sister Sara El-Khawas, 14, and her parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, on Tuesday afternoon in Shoreham-by-Sea.

It is thought that the family travelled from their home in London to visit Shoreham and entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort at around 2pm before they got into difficulty.

Sussex Police said their investigation remains open, but after a review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, it is currently thought the deaths were a tragic accident.

Chief Superintendent James Collis said: “This heartbreaking update is one we all feared in the aftermath of Tuesday’s tragic events.

Saja El-Khawas, six, died on Friday after the deaths of her sister and parents on Tuesday afternoon in Shoreham-by-Sea (Al-Arab in UK)

“I cannot imagine the devastation felt by the wider family of Hassan, Zeina, Sara and Saja after this loss. On behalf of everyone at Sussex Police, I extend our thoughts and heartfelt condolences.

“The impact of this tragedy has been felt across the country, and I know the Shoreham community, emergency responders and all involved will continue to be affected for a long time to come.

“I would like to thank all of the public who have shared their sympathies and kind words, and once again ask for the victims’ family and loved ones to be left to grieve in privacy.”

It is currently thought the deaths were a tragic accident (PA)

Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls posted a tribute to the Year 8 student on its website, which said: “Sara was a sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students and she will be greatly missed.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends, and all those affected.

“This news will be deeply upsetting for many students, families and staff.”

After the incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned of the dangers of open water swimming, which he described as 'a terrible family tragedy'.

The family entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort at around 2pm before they got into difficulty (PA)

The Palestinian embassy said Mr El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.

Rashidieh Camp is on the Mediterranean coast in southern Lebanon and is one of the most populous Palestinian refugee camps in the country.

Their extended family had lived in the UK for many years, the Palestinian Forum says.

Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, paid tribute to the family, although his spelling of their name differed from that used by Sussex Police.

He said: “The Palestinian, Arab and wider community in Britain, along with the many friends and supporters of our community, have been deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident involving the Khawwas family during a day trip off the coast of Sussex.”