Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Shoreham, West Sussex, while a young girl remains critically ill in hospital.
Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas were pronounced dead after being pulled from the water on Tuesday afternoon.
A fourth member of the family, a young girl, was rescued and remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The family had travelled from their home in London for a visit to Shoreham and entered the sea from the beach at Shoreham Fort at around 2pm on Tuesday, 18 August.
They subsequently got into difficulty, prompting a major emergency response.
HM Coastguard, the RNLI, Sussex Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service were among those sent to the scene as rescuers attempted to save the four family members.
Police believe deaths were a tragic accident
Sussex Police said its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths remains ongoing.
However, following an initial review of CCTV footage and witness accounts, officers said their current hypothesis is that the incident was a tragic accident.
Police said there was no third-party involvement.
A file will now be prepared for HM Coroner ahead of an inquest.
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.
“The thoughts of all at Sussex Police remain with the family’s loved ones as we work with our partners, including HM Coroner, to understand exactly how this incident occurred.
“The emergency response was significant, and I would like to thank all of the first responders for their determined attempts to save all four people, as well as the wider public for their patience during the incident.
“We will release further updates as soon as we are able, but we ask the family are given the privacy they deserve at this incredibly difficult time.”
Police enquiries into exactly how the family came into difficulty in the water are continuing.
