- The three relatives who died in rough waters at a harbour in West Sussex were part of a Palestinian family who once lived in a refugee camp in Lebanon.
- Grace Hilton, who was on the beach at the time, said: The sea was like a dishwasher yesterday. It was very rough and the winds were so strong I even had trouble holding my phone on the shore. The RNLI lifeguards were very much struggling.
- The Palestinian embassy confirmed that Hosam El-Khawas, his wife Zeina Alyan, and their daughter Sarah had died at Shoreham-by-Sea.
- Saja, their second daughter, survived but is in a critical condition.
- A couple and their teenage daughter who on Tuesday were Palestinian refugees.
- The embassy believes that all members of the family had British citizenship and lived in Sussex.
- The family is originally from Rashidieh camp, in the south of Lebanon.
- The Palestinian Forum of Britain stated it mourns the passing of Mr Hossam Al-Khawas, his wife, and their daughter, following their drowning in the Sussex area.
- The embassy has been in contact with El-Khawas’s brother, who lives in the UK, to offer its support.
- The family is in a rough situation mentally.
A Palestinian family, including a couple and their teenage daughter, tragically drowned in rough waters at Shoreham-by-Sea, with witnesses likening the waves to a 'dishwasher.' Grace Hilton, a beachgoer, described the conditions as 'very rough' with strong winds making it difficult to hold her phone.13
Chief Superintendent James Collis confirmed that despite the efforts of paramedics, three family members—a man, woman, and teenage girl—were pronounced dead. The family, originally from Rashidieh camp in Lebanon, had reportedly settled in Sussex and were believed to hold British citizenship.67
The Palestinian embassy expressed condolences, stating they had been in contact with the family’s relatives in the UK. The embassy noted that the surviving daughter, Saja, is currently in critical condition. The Palestinian Forum of Britain mourned the loss, emphasizing their deep sorrow for the family’s tragic fate.4
The incident highlights the dangers posed by rough seas, as local lifeguards struggled to manage the situation. Witnesses and officials alike are left grappling with the profound impact of this tragedy on the community.
“The Palestinian embassy confirmed that Hosam El-Khawas, his wife Zeina Alyan, and their daughter Sarah died at Shoreham-by-Sea, while their second daughter Saja survived but is in critical condition. The family, originally from Rashidieh camp in Lebanon, is believed to have had British citizenship and lived in Sussex.”
The Times
