Ellen Wilkinson Student One of Victims of Seaside Tragedy
Sara El-Khawas' family got into difficulty in water off Shoreham-by-Sea
Sara El-Khawas. Picture: Ellen Wilkinson School
August 20, 2026
A Year 8 student at Ellen Wilkinson School has been named as one of the victims of a tragic accident at a Sussex seaside resort earlier this week. Fourteen-year-old Sara El-Khawas drowned after getting into difficulty in the water off Shoreham-by-Sea along with her father, Hossam El-Khawas, 55, and his partner, Zeina Alayn, 37. All three had drowned by the time their bodies were discovered. A fourth member of the family, a younger girl, was rescued and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Emergency services were called at around 14:40 BST on Tuesday, 18 August, following reports that four people were in difficulty in the sea close to Shoreham Port. Witnesses described seeing a large emergency response, with coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, air ambulances, police officers and ambulance teams arriving at the seafront.
Chief Superintendent James Collis said that relatives had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers. He said that early indications suggested all four had entered the water from the shore for a swim and had got into difficulty. He appealed for witnesses and said inquiries were continuing to establish the full circumstances.
Ellen Wilkinson School issued a statement confirming the death of their student. The school said it was with great sadness that they shared the news that Sara had died during the school holidays. Staff described her as a sweet girl who was well-liked by both students and teachers, and said she would be greatly missed.
The school extended its condolences to her family, friends and all those affected, and said it was also thinking of her sister and loved ones at this extremely difficult time. Additional support is being put in place for students, families and staff, and the school said it would continue working with specialist services to ensure help is available to anyone who needs it. The statement asked that the family’s privacy be respected as they come to terms with their loss.
Hossam al-Khawas, Sara’s father, was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon near Tyre.
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