A six-year-old girl has died in hospital days after her parents and sister drowned off the south coast of England.
Saja El-Khawas was rescued but died on Friday, three days after the incident at Shoreham-by-Sea, according to a law firm acting for the hospital and a Palestinian group. She had been in a critical condition since.
Parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina El-Khawas, 37, and sister Sara El-Khawas, 14, were recovered by lifeboat after getting into difficulty in the sea but were pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday.
Solicitors acting on behalf of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and the Palestinian Forum in Britain, announced her death.
Sussex Police have said the deaths were being treated as a tragic accident with no third party involvement.
Mr Al Khawas was born in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon, according to the Palestinian embassy in the UK. All members of the family had British citizenship.
The family were well established in the UK and active members of the British Palestinian community, according to Nehad Khanfar, head of the Association of Palestinians Communities in the UK.
They told The National Mr Al Khawas's brothers and children were being supported by close friends and family. They have extended family in Lebanon.
Sara El Khawas attended Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing, west London, and the school paid tribute to her in a statement on its website.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that our Year 8 student, Sara, has died following a tragic incident during the school holidays,” said the school.
“Sara was a sweet girl, well-liked by staff and students, and she will be greatly missed.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends, and all those affected. We are also thinking of her sister and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
