Sky News anchor Jonathan Samuels interrupted the programme on Friday evening (August 21) to deliver a devastating piece of breaking news. The 54-year-old broadcaster announced that six-year-old Saja El-Khawas had died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities from the Shoreham sea incident to four.
Breaking announcement details
Mr Samuels said: “Some sad news to bring you. We’ve heard in the last few moments that six-year-old Saja El-Khawas has died in hospital. She was one of a family that was pulled from the sea in Shoreham on Tuesday.”
He continued: “Three of her family members have also died – Hassan El-Khawas, who was 55, Zeina Alayn, who was 37 and 14-year-old Sara El-Khawas. We’re now hearing that Saja has also died. She was taken to hospital on Tuesday but passed away today.”
Public reaction and family background
Viewers were left devastated, turning to social media to share their thoughts. One tweeted: “In God’s care now, rest easy child.” Another echoed: “Tragic. Poor family. RIP.” A third said: “Desperately sad.”
The family got into trouble in the sea during a trip to West Sussex. The Palestine embassy has since confirmed that Hassan was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.
Incident timeline and investigation
The family had travelled from London to visit Shoreham and entered the water near Shoreham Fort to go for a swim, but got into difficulty. Several ambulances, two air ambulances, a HM Coastguard helicopter and an RNLI lifeboat rushed to the scene, but sadly the family couldn’t be saved.
Sussex Police Chief Superintendent James Collis said: "The events of Tuesday afternoon are a heartbreaking tragedy which has devastated a family and their friends and had a profound impact on the Shoreham community." CCTV footage and witness accounts were both reviewed, and no third party is thought to be involved, though the investigation remains open.
