Emergency services recovered four people from the sea near Shoreham-by-Sea on 18–19 August 2026; three members of the same family were later pronounced dead and a younger girl from the family was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to multiple reports.

Sources reporting on the incident say police identified the deceased as Hassan El‑Khawas, 55; Zeina Alayn, 37; and their 14‑year‑old daughter Sara El‑Khawas.

Sussex Police are reported to have said investigators' current theory is that the deaths were a "tragic accident" with no third‑party involvement, and that the family had travelled from their home in London to Shoreham‑by‑Sea before entering the water. The description of the cause is reported as the police's current theory rather than a definitive finding.

Some reports say the Palestinian embassy in London posted condolences and described the family as Palestinian‑British and as originally from the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. These descriptions are reported by some outlets and have not been independently confirmed in the sources provided here.

This draft is based solely on the supplied reports. It requires editorial verification with primary sources — notably Sussex Police, the hospital treating the injured child, and the Palestinian embassy — before publication. Key missing details include the injured girl's identity and current condition, official statements or timestamps, coroner involvement, and independent confirmation of the family's origins.