Family of three dies in Shoreham sea accident, daughter critical in hospital

A family of four got into difficulty in the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, resulting in the deaths of three members. Hassan ElKhawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara ElKhawas died after being recovered from the water. A younger daughter remains in hospital in a critical condition.

The family had travelled from their home in northwest London for a day trip to the coast. According to police, they entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort at approximately 2 p.m. before getting into trouble. Emergency services, including police, paramedics, HM Coastguard, and the RNLI lifeboat crew, responded to the scene. Two air ambulance helicopters and a critical care team were also dispatched.

Sussex Police stated that after reviewing CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, the current hypothesis is that the incident was a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. The investigation remains open, and a file will be prepared for the HM Coroner ahead of an inquest. Chief Superintendent James Collis described the events as a heartbreaking tragedy that has devastated a family and had a profound impact on the...