School ‘deeply saddened’ by death of British-Palestinian family in Shoreham beach tragedy

A school attended by a 14-year-old British-Palestinian girl who died alongside her parents after getting into trouble at sea in Shoreham has paid tribute to her.

Sara El-Khawas, and her parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, are believed to have gone into the water near Shoreham Fort in East Sussex on Tuesday, prompting a major rescue operation.

The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London, wrote in a statement: “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. We are also thinking of her sister and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

Sussex Police have confirmed that a fourth member of the family, a young girl, remains in hospital in critical condition.

The family are understood to have travelled from their home in London to visit Shoreham, on the south coast, entering the water from the beach at Shoreham Fort at around 2pm on Tuesday afternoon.

An emergency response included action from HM Coastguard, the RNLI, Sout East Coast Ambulance Service and police. Several ambulances and two air ambulances were seen near the RNLI station on Tuesday afternoon.

Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls head teacher Rachel Kruger said: “We are deeply saddened by this, and our thoughts are with her family, friends and all those affected.

“Our focus is now on supporting staff and students who have been affected by this.”

The Palestinian Forum in Britiain (PFB) said that the group were British citizens of Palestinian origin. The Palestinian embassy in London has confirmed that Hassan El-Khawas had been a refugee in the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.

The PFB write that it “extends its deepest condolences to the family of Hossam El-Khawas, his wife and daughter, and to the Palestinian community in Britain, especially the people of Rashidieh Camp, Lebanon.

“May Allah have mercy on them and grant strength and patience to their loved ones. We also pray for the swift recovery of their surviving daughter.”

Andy Burnham called the deaths a “tragedy” as he issued a reminder about open water swimming during the heatwaves.

The prime minister said on Wednesday: “The thing I can say today – and there is still, I think, a further heatwave to come in this summer period – is just to remind people about the dangers of open water swimming.

“The coldness, even when it feels hot outside, it can shock people and that can cause the difficulties. So people just need to remember that at all times.”

Shoreham-by-Sea, a coastal town outside of Brighton, is a popular destination for families looking to enjoy the beach and sea, especially during warmer spells.

Joss Loader, who lives nearby and represents Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association on Adur District Council, said: “There’s just a really strong sense of shock; obviously people are really concerned for the young girl.

“A small tightly knight community with a very deep sense of shock and that sense of disbelief you get after a tragedy because it has come out of nowhere.”

She added: “People swim from those beaches even in the winter; generally it is considered as safe as the sea can be. You wouldn’t be swimming there and think you were taking a risk.”