Overview
- A family from London entered the sea near Shoreham Fort and got into difficulty on Tuesday, August 18, with three members pronounced dead at the scene and emergency services launching a large RNLI, coastguard, police and ambulance response.
- The six-year-old survivor, Saja El-Khawas, was taken to hospital in critical condition and her death was confirmed on Friday in a legal notice from solicitors acting for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and by the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
- Sussex Police say initial reviews of CCTV footage and witness accounts currently point to a tragic accident with no evidence of third-party involvement, but their investigation remains open and is being coordinated with the coroner.
- An eyewitness claim that a child became entangled in a fishing net has been reported but is unverified, and authorities are examining CCTV, witness statements and forensic evidence as part of ongoing inquiries.
- The family’s deaths have prompted local mourning and renewed public warnings about the risks of open-water swimming, including cold-water shock, and the Palestinian community has held commemorations while relatives receive support.