A community vigil has been held for a family of four who died following a sea tragedy at Shoreham, after they had travelled to the beach from London.
Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas were recovered from the water but were pronounced dead at the scene.
The couple’s youngest daughter, six-year-old Saja El-Khawas, was rescued alive and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. She died on Friday, three days after the incident, bringing the number of family members killed to four.
Mourners gathered earlier at Kingston Beach, where the tragedy unfolded, while a one-minute silence was also observed in Shoreham town centre.
Reverend Pat Alden said: ‘When something happens, whether it’s something we celebrate… or tragic circumstances like this, the community comes together.’
Mr Alden added: ‘Shoreham is the sort of place where the community comes together at times like this. We are a very close-knit community.’
The family were British citizens of Palestinian origin and had come to the UK from Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon, according to the Palestinian embassy.
Located on the Mediterranean coast, Rashidieh is among the most densely populated Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
A woman lays lowers on the beach at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, near the RNLI station
Hassan El-Khawas, 55, who died alongside his wife and children, was a Palestinian refugee
Eldest daughter Sara El-Khawas, 14, was described by her school as a ‘sweet girl’ who was ‘well-liked’ by her classmates and teachers
Zeina Alayn, 37, died alongside her husband and two daughters at Shoreham-by-Sea
It is understood that the family had travelled down from their home in north-west London to visit Shoreham for the day.
Floral tributes were left at Shoreham beach following the tragedy, reports the BBC.
The family lived in a first-floor, two-bedroom council flat, with neighbours describing them as a ‘warm, close family’.
Sara’s school in west London paid tribute to her, describing her as a well-liked and sweet student.
The school, in the London borough of Ealing, said: ‘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.
‘This news will be deeply upsetting for many students, families and staff.’
Sussex Police currently believe the deaths were a tragic accident, based on CCTV and initial witness accounts, and say there is no indication of third-party involvement. Their investigation remains open.
Saja El-Khawas, six, has died in hospital just days after three members of her family drowned at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
The Shoreham community honoured the family with a vigil, a town-centre minute of silence, and a paddleboard/kayak memorial on the water
The family had travelled down from their home in London on Tuesday to visit Shoreham, which is about 6.3 miles (10.1km) from Brighton.
The force said the family had entered the water from the beach at Shoreham Fort at about 2pm BST before getting into trouble.
A Sussex Police spokesman said the investigation remained open, and the ‘current hypothesis’ was that it was ‘a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement’.
Commenting on Saja’s death on Friday evening, Chief Superintendent James Collis said: ‘This heartbreaking update is one we all feared in the aftermath of Tuesday’s tragic events.
‘The impact of this tragedy has been felt across the country and I know the Shoreham community, emergency responders and all involved will continue to be affected for a long time to come.’
Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the incident a ‘terrible family tragedy’.
Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, paid tribute to the family.
He said: ‘The Palestinian, Arab and wider community in Britain, along with the many friends and supporters of our community, have been deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident involving the Khawwas family during a day trip off the coast of Sussex.’
