Father who drowned off Sussex coast along with two family members was Palestinian refugee

Three members of the same family died after getting into difficulty in the sea.

The tragic incident, which happened in Shoreham in West Sussex, saw three people drown from the same family, as per police.

A man, a woman, and a teenage girl died after being swept out to sea trying to save a younger family member.

Eyewitness reports claim that the girl had become entangled in a fishing net.

As per the Mirror, local landscaper Joe Chrisp, 24, said: “One of the local fishermen said it was two adults, two kids.

“One of the kids apparently got caught in a fishing net.”

The landscaper added: “It happened when I was on my way back from work. There were loads of police and I got turned around. It’s so tragic.”

The younger family member is currently fighting for her life in hospital.

It has now been confirmed by the Palestinian Embassy that the man who drowned was a Palestinian refugee.

Named as Hossam al Khawas, the embassy said he was from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.

The embassy said it has not been able to confirm the names of the other family members.

Local fishermen alerted police after spotting the girl in trouble at around 3pm yesterday.

A statement yesterday from Chief Superintendent James Collis said a man, a woman and a teenage girl died, while a younger girl from the same family is in a critical condition in hospital.

He said: “Around 2.40 pm this afternoon (18 August), emergency services were called to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Fort.

“Sussex Police supported His Majesty’s Coast Guard and the RNLI as all four people were brought to shore.

“Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, three people – a man, a woman, and a teenage girl – were sadly confirmed deceased.

“A younger girl has been taken to hospital and is in critical condition. We can confirm all four people were from the same family, and their next of kin have been informed.”

Feature image credit BBC News screenshot.