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Sussex Police Confirm Shoreham Beach Drowning Deaths

8/22/2026

39 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

El-Khawas Family Drowns

British police said six-year-old Saja El-Khawas died after drowning at Shoreham beach.
Her parents Hassan El-Khawas and Zeina Alayn and sister Sara, 14, also drowned at the scene.
Sussex police described the incident as a tragic accident with no third-party involvement.
The family travelled from London to Shoreham on Tuesday and originated from Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon.

Summary

Fisherman Rescues

Sussex Police logged the emergency call at 14:40 BST on Tuesday.
HM Coastguard, the RNLI lifeboat and South East Coast Ambulance Service deployed to Shoreham Fort.
Two air ambulances landed on the shoreline to transport victims to hospital.
A local fisherman rescued one child from the water before alerting authorities.
Chief Superintendent James Collis praised the rapid coordination among responders.

History

Historical Context

In 1914 the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland collided in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, killing 1,012 passengers and crew. The disaster exposed the limits of early distress signaling and rescue coordination, prompting calls for improved distress signaling and coordinated rescue efforts. Those principles underpin today’s joint response by Sussex Police, HM Coastguard and the RNLI at incidents such as the Shoreham Fort rescue.

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El-Khawas Family Drowns

British police said six-year-old Saja El-Khawas died after drowning at Shoreham beach.
Her parents Hassan El-Khawas and Zeina Alayn and sister Sara, 14, also drowned at the scene.
Sussex police described the incident as a tragic accident with no third-party involvement.
The family travelled from London to Shoreham on Tuesday and originated from Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon.

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