Four Palestinian-British Family Members Die in Shoreham Drowning

Four members of a Palestinian-British family died after entering the sea near Shoreham Fort in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The victims include 55-year-old Hassan El Khawas, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter, Sara El Khawas. A six-year-old daughter, Saja El-Khawas, was rescued by emergency services after fishermen spotted the family struggling around 2:40 p.m., but she died in the hospital on Friday.

Sussex Police are treating the deaths as a tragic accident. Investigations involving CCTV footage and witness testimony found no evidence of third-party involvement or the use of fishing nets. The family, who lived in London, had traveled to the coast to escape a heatwave. The Embassy of Palestine confirmed that Hassan El Khawas was a refugee from the Rashidieh camp in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the event as a "terrible family tragedy" and warned the public about the dangers of open water swimming, specifically citing the risk of cold water shock. Local MP Tom Rutland also called for increased public education regarding water safety. The Association of Palestinians Communities in the UK and the Palestinian Forum in Britain have organized condolences and commemoration events for the bereaved family.