West London girl, 6, dies days after family tragedy at sea
Saja El-Khawas died in hospital after being pulled from the sea in West Sussex alongside her parents and sister.
Incident → evidence → outcomeA six-year-old girl from West London has died in hospital after being pulled from the sea in West Sussex. Saja El-Khawas passed away on Friday, three days after her sister Sara, 14, and parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, were found deceased. Saja had been receiving critical care in hospital since the incident.
The family is understood to have travelled from their London home to visit Shoreham. They are believed to have entered the water near Shoreham Fort around 2pm on Tuesday, 23 July, before encountering difficulties. Emergency services were observed searching the area where the River Adur meets the sea.
Police investigation
Sussex Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Following a review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, officers currently believe the incident to be a tragic accident with no indication of third-party involvement. Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police extended condolences to the wider family, acknowledging the profound impact of the events on the community and emergency responders.
The Palestinian embassy stated it is closely monitoring the situation. Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, expressed deep shock and sadness on behalf of the Palestinian and wider community in Britain.
School tribute
Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, where Sara El-Khawas was a Year 8 student, posted a tribute on its website. The school described Sara as a "sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students" and stated she would be greatly missed. The school offered its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Questions this report answers
01How old was the youngest child who died?
Saja El-Khawas, the youngest of the four family members, was six years old. She died in hospital three days after her sister, mother, and father were found deceased in West Sussex.
02What is the current police view of the incident?
Sussex Police are investigating the deaths. After reviewing CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, they currently believe the incident was a tragic accident and that there was no third-party involvement.
03Which school has paid tribute to one of the victims?
Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing has posted a tribute to Sara El-Khawas, who was a Year 8 student. The school described her as a sweet girl who will be greatly missed by staff and students.
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