Heartbreak in Shoreham: Six-Year-Old Saja Dies Days After Family Tragedy

A wave of sorrow has swept across the nation as six-year-old Saja El-Khawas, a British Palestinian from London, tragically passed away in hospital days after a devastating incident in the waters off Shoreham, West Sussex. Her death marks the fourth fatality in a heartbreaking accident that also claimed the lives of her father, mother, and elder sister earlier this week.

Saja was pulled from the sea by emergency crews on Tuesday after her family got into difficulty. Despite the valiant efforts of paramedics, her father Hassan El-Khawas, 55, mother Zeina Alayn, 37, and 14-year-old sister Sara had already succumbed at the scene. Saja herself had been in critical condition since the incident.

The tragedy unfolded at Kingston Beach, a short distance from Shoreham Fort, on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services, including HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and South East Coast Ambulance Service, were called around 2:40 PM BST after reports of four people struggling in the water. The family had traveled from their London home for a visit to Shoreham that day, entering the sea from the beach at approximately 2:00 PM.

Sussex Police have confirmed that their investigation into the incident remains open. However, after reviewing CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, police believe this was a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. A file will be prepared for the coroner for an inquest.

The impact of this profound loss has been deeply felt, not just by the grieving family, but by emergency responders and the wider Shoreham community. Chief Superintendent James Collis expressed the collective heartache, stating that this "heartbreaking update is one we all feared." The nation mourns with those affected by this unimaginable tragedy.

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