Sussex police confirm death of six-year-old girl days after family drowning
The death of Saja el-Khawas follows that of her parents and sister, who drowned at Shoreham during a national heatwave.
Sussex police have confirmed the death of Saja el-Khawas, a six-year-old Palestinian-British girl, who died in hospital on Friday. Her death follows that of her father, mother, and sister, who all perished at the scene of a drowning incident at Shoreham on Tuesday.
The family, who resided in London, had travelled to the coast to visit the beach as the United Kingdom experienced a significant heatwave. On Tuesday, the group got into difficulty in the water, resulting in the immediate deaths of Hassan El-Khawas, 55, Zeina Alayn, 37, and 14-year-old Sara El-Khawas. Saja was transported to hospital in critical condition but did not survive her injuries.
While the investigation into the incident remains open, Sussex police have outlined their current theory. Officials described the event as a “tragic accident, with no third-party involvement,” a classification that has not yet been finalised.
The family’s background has drawn attention to broader migration patterns. According to the Daily Telegraph, which cited the Palestinian embassy, the family was originally from the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Hassan El-Khawas reportedly arrived in the UK as a refugee, having previously lived in the camp, which is one of the most populous Palestinian refugee settlements in Lebanon.
The incident has prompted reactions from both political and community figures. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the event as a “terrible family tragedy.” Additionally, the Palestinian Forum in Britain held a gathering on Thursday to commemorate the family.
The drowning occurred against a backdrop of rising water-related fatalities across Europe. Authorities have noted a surge in drownings in France, Germany, and the UK as residents seek relief from the continent’s intense heat.
