Young girl, 6, dies in hospital as 4 of same family tragically dead after ‘getting into difficulty’ in sea at Shoreham
A YOUNG girl has died days after three members of her family were killed when they all got into difficulty in the water at a popular beach.
Saja El-Khawas, 6, was rushed to hospital after being swept out to sea with her 14-year-old sister, and two parents at Shoreham, West Sussex, on Tuesday.
She has now tragically died in hospital, according to a law firm acting for the hospital and the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
The family of four were recovered by lifeboat crews and brought ashore, but Palestinian refugee Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his wife Zeina Alyan, 37, and their teen daughter Sara El-Khawas sadly died.
The trio jumped in the sea in a desperate rescue bid after Saja got into difficulty in the water, it was claimed earlier this week.
The young girl was spotted struggling in the waves before “mayhem” broke out and a huge emergency response descended on the seafront at around 3pm.
Two helicopters, eight ambulances, lifeboat crews and the coastguard rushed to the scene shortly after the alarm was raised by fishermen.
Saja was urgently rushed to hospital in a critical condition and has since sadly died of her injuries, cops confirmed today.
Hassan was from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon, the Palestinian Embassy confirmed this afternoon.
It is understood the family travelled down from their home in London to visit Shoreham, and entered the water from the beach at around 2pm.
Chief Supt James Collis said all relatives entered the water together for a swim before getting into difficulty.
An investigation has been launched to understand the full circumstances of the latest water tragedy.
Horrified beachgoers watched as crews battled in vain and carried out CPR after the victims were dragged back to shore.
Witness Joe Chrisp, 24, said: “One of the local fishermen said it was two adults, two kids.”
Victoria Flint, of nearby Horsham, was there with husband Gary and their children.
She said: “We arrived at about three and soon after we heard the siren for the lifeboat.
“We watched it launch and then, about 20 minutes later, it came back. Ambulances started arriving.
“More and more of them. Then the air ambulances started.”
Locals also described the weather as very windy, and said that the sea appeared to be choppy during the horror.
Anna Peacock, 81, who lives near Kingston Beach across the water from Shoreham, added emergency services were on the scene very quickly.
She said: “It was terribly sad to know that just across the road people have lost their lives.
“People come down to swim, particularly in the summertime and I don’t think they realise there’s a riptide along here.
“It’s very inviting to come to the sea, but the tide could carry you out in seconds, and I don’t think people have realised that.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously sent his sympathies to the friends and family of those involved in the tragedy.
