Key Points
- Sadly Lost Lives: Four individuals belonging to a British-Palestinian family living in Craven Park, north-west London, have been killed due to an accident that occurred at the coast in Sussex.
- Identity of the Victims: The names of the victims are: Hussam El-Khawas, a construction worker aged 55; his wife Zeina Alayan, 37; and his two daughters Sara, 14; and Saja, six.
- Hospitalization and Deaths: Even though three victims died the same day of the accident, six-year-old Saja was saved from death but died three days later in Evelina Children’s Hospital.
- Official Report: It has been confirmed by Sussex Police that even though the case is under investigation, the first look at the surveillance video and witnesses’ statements indicates that the case was an unfortunate accident without any outside interference.
- Opening Inquest: Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield has opened the inquest in Horsham and the proceedings have been postponed to March 16 of next year after police report.
- Community Assistance: A fundraising campaign set up by the Palestinian Forum in Britain has crossed £20,000 for funerals and repatriation to Lebanon.
North London (North London News) September 2, 2026 – An inquest has formally opened in Horsham into the drowning of four members of a Palestinian family who encountered difficulty off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea.
As reported by Ben Mitchell of PA Media, six-year-old Saja El-Khawas passed away at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London on 21 August due to a hypoxic brain injury and drowning, three days after her parents, Hussam El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayan, 37, alongside her 14-year-old sister Sara, were declared deceased on 18 August.
What Details Emerged During The Opening Of The Inquest Hearing?
At the inquest opening at the coroner’s court in Horsham, West Sussex, official proceedings outlined the precise timeline of events that unfolded during the family’s day trip from London.
As reported by Ben Mitchell of PA Media, coroner’s officer Kelly Truss stated to the court that emergency services were called at approximately 2:00 pm on 18 August after reports were received of “members of the public getting into trouble in the sea” near Shoreham Fort.
The father, mother, and elder daughter were recovered from the water by RNLI lifeboat crews and brought ashore to Kingston Beach. They were pronounced deceased at the RNLI lifeboat station.
As reported by Kelly Truss during the court hearing, the youngest daughter, Saja, was resuscitated at the scene before being rushed to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. She was subsequently transferred to the Evelina Children’s Hospital at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
As stated by Kelly Truss:
“All clinical signs throughout her admission showed evidence of a hypoxic brain injury.”
She noted that a provisional medical cause of death for six-year-old Saja was provided by Dr Hawa Sesay as 1a hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and 1b drowning. A formal cause of death for the other three family members has not yet been officially determined pending ongoing toxicology and post-mortem investigations.
Who Were The Four Victims Of The Coastal Incident?
The victims of the incident were members of a family living in Craven Park, north-west London.
As reported by ITV News Meridian, the father, Hussam Abdallah El-Khawas, aged 55, was an employed construction worker born in January 1971 in Rachidie, Lebanon. His wife, Zeina Alayan, aged 37, was a homemaker born in March 1989 in the same region. Both parents were Lebanese nationals who also held British passports.
Their two daughters were both born in Kensington, London—Sara in October 2012 and Saja in December 2019. Sara was a Year 8 pupil at The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London.
As quoted by Arab News, a spokesperson for The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls expressed deep sorrow over the loss:
“Sara was a sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students, and she will be greatly missed.”
Court officer Kelly Truss confirmed that the father’s brother, Adnan Al-Kwass, was formally identified as the next-of-kin and had been notified of the coronial opening.
What Is The Status Of The Police Investigation?
Sussex Police, alongside HM Coastguard and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, mounted a major search and rescue operation upon receiving emergency reports from Shoreham beach.
As reported by The Independent, Sussex Police confirmed that while an active investigation remains open, officers have conducted a comprehensive review of nearby CCTV footage and evaluated initial witness statements.
According to a spokesperson for Sussex Police:
“Following a review of CCTV footage and initial witness statements, officers currently believe the deaths were an accident with no third-party involvement.”
Senior Coroner for West Sussex, Penelope Schofield, offered her formal sympathies to the surviving relatives before adjourning the inquest proceedings.
As stated by Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield during the hearing:
“In respect of all four family members, there is an ongoing police investigation. Once that is completed, the inquests will be brought forward… I offer my sincerest condolences to the wider family for the loss of these four family members in these circumstances.”
The formal inquest hearing has been provisionally scheduled to resume on 16 March next year.
Background of the Particular Development
The Khawas family possessed deep roots in the Palestinian diaspora. According to statements released by the Palestinian Embassy in London, Hussam El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee originally from the Rashidieh Camp situated near Tyre in southern Lebanon.
Established on the Mediterranean coast, Rashidieh is one of the most densely populated refugee settlements in Lebanon, housing thousands of displaced Palestinian families. Mr El-Khawas and his wife had subsequently relocated to the United Kingdom, where they raised their daughters and secured British citizenship while maintaining ties to their homeland.
Following the tragedy on 18 August, the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)—an organization providing community and welfare support for Palestinians residing in the UK—launched an emergency fundraising campaign on GoFundMe. The target of £20,000 was rapidly surpassed within days, reaching total contributions exceeding £22,000.
The funds raised are allocated toward covering local funeral arrangements, providing financial assistance to extended family members, and facilitating the repatriation of the deceased family members’ remains to Lebanon for burial in their ancestral grounds.
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Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Beachgoers and Coastal Communities
This tragedy at Shoreham-by-Sea is likely to trigger heightened public awareness and potential policy evaluations regarding coastal safety along UK shorelines, directly impacting day-trippers, local coastal authorities, and water-safety organizations.
- Heightened Coastal Safety Protocols: In the wake of multiple fatalities near Shoreham Fort, local borough councils and HM Coastguard may face calls to increase clear signage detailing undertows, tidal shifts, and submerged hazards along non-lifeguarded stretches of beach.
- Impact on Local and Visitor Communities: Visitors from inland urban areas—such as London—frequently travel to coastal regions without full familiarity with localized tidal currents. This event highlights the vulnerability of day-trippers and may prompt broader public awareness campaigns targeting migrant and non-local communities regarding open-water swimming dangers.
- Legal and Coronial Findings: The adjourned inquest scheduled for March next year will provide definitive findings on the environmental conditions present on 18 August. These conclusions may influence future beach patrol deployments and emergency response frameworks across West Sussex beaches during peak summer seasons.
