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🇶🇦 Qatar /Disasters & Emergencies

Palestinian-British Girl Dies Days After Family Drowned Off UK Coast

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • A six-year-old Palestinian-British girl has died in hospital days after her parents and 14-year-old sister drowned off the coast of Shoreham, Sussex.
  • The family, who lived in London, were visiting the beach during a UK heatwave when they got into difficulty in the water.
  • Police are investigating the incident as a tragic accident with no third-party involvement, while drownings have surged across Europe due to the heatwave.

A six-year-old Palestinian-British girl, Saja El-Khawas, has died in hospital, days after her parents and older sister drowned off the coast of Shoreham, Sussex. Saja was admitted in critical condition on Tuesday but succumbed to her injuries, Sussex police confirmed Friday.

Her father, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, mother Zeina Alayn, 37, and 14-year-old sister Sara El-Khawas, all died at the scene on Tuesday after encountering trouble in the water. The family, originally from the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, resided in London and had traveled to Shoreham to enjoy the beach amidst the UK's ongoing heatwave.

A tragic accident, with no third-party involvement.

— Sussex policeDescribing the current theory behind the family's drowning incident.

An investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy is ongoing, but police currently theorize it was a "tragic accident, with no third-party involvement." The Palestinian Forum in Britain held a memorial gathering for the family on Thursday. The incident occurs as drownings have increased across Europe as people seek refuge from the extreme heat.

A terrible family tragedy.

— Andy BurnhamUK Prime Minister's description of the event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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