Key Points
- Sara Al-Khawas, 14, her father Hassan Al-Khawas, 55, and her mother Zeina Alayn, 37, died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
- The incident happened on a Tuesday afternoon after the family entered the water near Shoreham Fort.
- Their daughter Saja was rescued and taken to hospital, where she remained in critical condition.
- The family were British citizens of Palestinian origin, with ancestral roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon. They had lived in west London for more than a decade.
- The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London, where Sara studied, paid tribute to her.
- Community leaders, the Palestinian Embassy in the UK and local authorities expressed shock and offered condolences and support to the surviving relatives.
London (Extra London News) August 24, 2026 — A profound sense of grief has enveloped both the British-Palestinian community and a west London school following the deaths of three members of a single family who drowned off the southern coast of England. Sara Al-Khawas, a 14-year-old student, perished alongside her 55-year-old father, Hassan Al-Khawas, and her 37-year-old mother, Zeina Alayn, after encountering severe distress while swimming near Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of four individuals struggling against powerful currents, yet despite immediate rescue efforts, three members of the family were pronounced dead at the location.
What Happened During the Shoreham Beach Tragedy?
According to details compiled from reports by Arab News and The National, emergency services were alerted at approximately 2:40 pm on a Tuesday afternoon after four people got into serious difficulty in the open water off Shoreham Fort. Sussex Police confirmed that Hassan Al-Khawas, Zeina Alayn, and their teenage daughter Sara were pulled out of the sea by rescue teams but could not be revived.
As reported by The National, the family’s other daughter, Saja, was pulled alive from the water by emergency responders and swiftly transported to a hospital, where she remained in a critical condition. Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police expressed deep sorrow over the catastrophe, stating as reported by AOL.co.uk and The National:
“Our thoughts are with the friends and family. I know this incident will have a profound effect on the community”.
Chief Superintendent Collis further added, as noted by The National:
“The events of Tuesday afternoon are a heartbreaking tragedy which has devastated a family and their friends and had a profound impact on the Shoreham community”.
Who Were the Members of the Al-Khawas Family?
Background details shared via the Palestinian Embassy in the UK and community organisations reveal that the family were well-established residents who had lived in west London for more than ten years. As reported by The National, Hassan Al-Khawas was born in the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon before moving to the United Kingdom, and all family members held British citizenship.
Nehad Khanfar, head of the Association of Palestinians Communities in the UK (APCUK), told The National that the family were active and respected members of the British-Palestinian community. Dr Khanfar stated:
“The community is very affected. We were all shocked. But at this time we have to support the family”.
Similarly, Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, remarked as reported by Arab News and Al Jazeera that the community was deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden loss, noting that extended relatives and paternal uncles were currently stepping in to care for the surviving children with the assistance of close friends.
How Did the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls Pay Tribute?
Sara Al-Khawas was remembered fondly by her educators and peers at the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls located in Ealing, west London. In an official statement published on the school’s website and cited by Arab News and The National, administration officials expressed profound grief over the loss of their Year 8 student during the school break.
As reported by Arab News, the school stated:
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that our Year 8 student, Sara, has died following a tragic incident during the school holidays”.
The institution further described the teenager by stating, as noted in The National:
“Sara was a sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students, and she will be greatly missed”.
Offering words of comfort to the bereaved relatives, the school administration emphasized:
“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”.
In response to the tragedy, the school announced that it was actively implementing specialised counseling and additional support structures for students, families, and staff members navigating the upsetting circumstances.
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What Reactions Have Come from Public Officials and Local Communities?
Public figures and local religious groups have responded with an outpouring of solidarity, laying floral tributes along the West Sussex coastline where the accident took place. UK politician and leader Andy Burnham described the event as a “terrible family tragedy” that serves as a grim and timely reminder regarding the unpredictable nature and hidden dangers associated with swimming in open coastal waters.
Local religious institutions in Shoreham also mobilized immediately following the incident. According to reports compiled by Al Jazeera and NewsCord, the Good Shepherd church opened its doors to local residents and mourners, providing a dedicated space for quiet reflection, prayer, and community solidarity. Members of the public continued to visit the Shoreham seafront to leave floral arrangements, cards, and written messages of condolence for the grieving relatives.
What Are the Next Steps Following the Investigation?
Authorities have indicated that formal procedures must take place before final funeral arrangements can proceed. As reported by The National, a post-mortem examination is required to be carried out by coroners in West Sussex before the bodies of Hassan Al-Khawas, Zeina Alayn, and young Sara can be formally released to their relatives for burial.
Meanwhile, community networks in both the United Kingdom and Lebanon are coordinating support systems. Dr Nehad Khanfar of the APCUK confirmed to The National that a formal community condolence event is being planned to honor the family once funeral rites and burials have concluded. At the same time, relatives, community leaders, and school counselors remain focused on supporting the surviving daughter, Saja, as she continues her medical recovery in the hospital.
