Gabriela Pomeroy
Live reporter

Image source, AlArab in UK

Three members of the same family who died in the sea off Shoreham in Sussex on Tuesday have been named by police.

Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas died after getting into difficulty in the water.

A girl, who the Palestinian Forum in Britain says is the couple's younger daughter, remains in critical condition in hospital.

The forum adds that two other children were on the shore at the time of the incident and are now being cared for by their uncle.

The family lived in London and were British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon. Their extended family had lived in the UK for many years, the forum says.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham today called the incident a "terrible family tragedy".

Local resident Toby Venn told the BBC it is "incredibly shocking" something like this has happened in Shoreham, while the Beach Residents' Association says the incident has sent "sent shockwaves across the local community".

We're bringing our live coverage to an end now but you can read more on this story in our full report.

Image source, PA Media

Local Councillor, Joss Loader, who represents the Shoreham Beach Residents' Association and has lived in the area most of her life, describes the deaths as a "shocking, heart-rending tragedy".

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims' family and friends - particularly the younger girl who is now in hospital," she said.

The councillor also told the BBC that the beach "is a challenging environment and it can be difficult to get in and out of the sea, during certain conditions".

"This a tight-knit community and there is a sense of profound shock and heart-felt sympathy for this family, who were enjoying a visit to the beach when tragedy struck."

Julia Watts, the chair of Adur District Council has said she is "very shocked" by the deaths, which she says seem like an "ignominious end" to a summer that has seen local beaches safely welcome thousands of visitors.

“We obviously don’t know the circumstances of how they got into difficulty but the sea will never be completely safe," Councillor Watts was quoted as saying in the Argus, the local newspaper.

“Many of us swim every day weather permitting and for people to lose their lives on a warm day in August seems unfathomable.”

Watts sent her thanks to the emergency services "who responded quickly and in force" and said the local community "will need time to come to terms with this terrible accident."

The MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tom Rutland, tells the BBC News channel it is "a really sad day".

"Everyone in the community is really shocked and saddened by what's happened," he says.

"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the three family members who sadly died yesterday."

He adds that "we are all hoping and praying that the young girl receiving medical treatment in a nearby hospital makes a full recovery".

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent

As we've been reporting, the Palestinian Forum in Britain say the family are British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon.

Rashidieh is one of the most populous Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, located south of the city of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast.

According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), external, the camp dates back to 1936, when it was set up to accommodate Armenian refugees who had fled to Lebanon. It was then expanded by the agency in 1963 to house Palestinians.

Unrwa says the camp had around 36,500 registered people in December 2023.

Across Lebanon, there are nearly 500,000 registered Palestinian refugees. The agency provides services to 12 camps set up since 1948, when the state of Israel was proclaimed, as the British mandate for Palestine ended. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were then displaced.

In Lebanon, the camps are overcrowded, people face severe poverty and lack of legal rights.

Emma Vardy
Reporting from Shoreham

Toby Venn, who lives nearby and came to lay flowers, tells the BBC it is "incredibly shocking" that something like this has happened in Shoreham.

"Somewhere so small, such a big thing to happen, I think everyone in Shoreham is feeling the effect of it today," adds Toby, 21.

Describing the sea, he says it does get "really, really choppy" near Shoreham Fort, adding that he thinks there needs to be even "bigger signs planted along the beach".

His sister, 22-year-old Neve Venn, tells me she saw the ambulances lined up and "prayed there had not been a death".

“I go to Shoreham Beach and it's always kids laughing, families having fun enjoying themselves - but obviously once you go in the sea it's a completely different story," Neve adds.

Image source, PA Media

The seaside tragedy involving a British family of Palestinian origin has prompted an outpouring of sadness from Shoreham locals, Palestinian community representatives, and the prime minster.

• Reacting to the family's death, Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, says the organisation's "thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, particularly the children, who are facing an unimaginable loss"
• The Palestinian embassy in London "extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims' family, their loved ones, and members of the Palestinian community" in the UK, while wishing the young girl in hospital a "speedy recovery"
• Prime Minister Andy Burnham sends his "best wishes and love" to the family and friends of those who died and the girl who remains in critical condition
• In Shoreham, the Beach Residents' Association says the incident has sent "sent shockwaves across the local community", while a tribute at the scene says "our thoughts are with all the family and friends". The associate vicar of the Good Shepherd Church earlier described it as a "morning of shock and sadness"

Image source, Al-Arab in UK

Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old Sara El-Khawas died in the sea off Shoreham, Sussex.

Surviving them is their other daughter, who is younger than Sara and remains in hospital in critical condition, according to Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain. She has not been officially named.

The family were visiting Shoreham from London, where they lived.

The Palestinian Forum said the family were British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon. Earlier, the Palestinian embassy in London told the BBC that Hassan El-Khawas had been a refugee.

Two other children were on the shore at the time of the incident and are now being cared for in London by their uncle, who is the brother of Hassan, according to Hmidan.

Emma Vardy
Reporting from Shoreham

As the sun has come out, swimmers have begun to re-enter the water here, paddling up and down the shoreline with their brightly coloured open-water swim floats.

One scattered flowers as she went in, and asked to have a private moment as she did so.

The pile of flowers at the side of the beach has grown, people continuing to visit to express their shock and grief at what has happened.

Locals tell us how they come down here almost every day to walk along the seafront, and can hardly believe that a tragedy like this could occur.

There are renewed questions over how the dangers of open water swimming can be better communicated, and whether future summer tragedies can be prevented.

Image source, PA Media

We can now bring you photos of Hassan El-Khawas, 55, Zeina Alayn, 37, and 14-year-old Sara El-Khawas, who died after getting into difficulty in the sea in Shoreham on Tuesday.

The family are British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon, according to the Palestinian Forum in Britain.

Image source, Al-Arab in UK

Image source, Al-Arab in UK

Image source, Al-Arab in UK

Hmidan goes on to say in his statement that the family are British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon.

"Like many Palestinian families, members of their extended family have lived in Britain for many years and have built a strong and close-knit community here," he says.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, particularly the children, who are facing an unimaginable loss."

We can now bring you a statement from Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, who says two other children were on the shore at the time of the incident.

They are now being cared for by their uncle, Hmidan says.

He also says the young girl who was involved in the incident, and is still in hospital, is the younger daughter of the couple who died.

Imogen James
Live reporter

In their latest update, Sussex Police have named the father, mother and teenage daughter who died in the sea off Shoreham on Tuesday.

Here's what we've learnt from police:

• The three family members who died in the incident were Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter, Sara El-Khawas
• A fourth family member - a young girl - remains in hospital in critical condition. She has not been named
• The family lived in London and were visiting Shoreham when they entered the water "from the beach at Shoreham Fort" at about 14:00 BST Tuesday
• The investigation remains open, but "the current hypothesis is that this was a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement"

More now from Sussex Police, who say the investigation into the incident "remains open, but following review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, the current hypothesis is that this was a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement".

The statement says they are working with HM Coroner "to understand exactly how this incident occurred".

They add that they will continue to provide updates "as soon as we are able, but we ask the family are given the privacy they deserve at this incredibly difficult time".

Sussex Police say they understand that the family, who lived in London, were visiting Shoreham when they entered the water.

The force says the four family members entered the water "from the beach at Shoreham Fort" at about 14:00 BST Tuesday before "getting into trouble".

"A significant emergency service response followed including, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and South East Coast Ambulance Service and police," the force adds in a statment.

We've just had an update from Sussex Police, who have named the three family members who died in the sea off Shoreham as Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter, Sara El-Khawas.

A fourth person, a young girl who was also part of the family, remains in hospital in a critical condition. She has not been named.

Police add the family lived in London, and were visiting Shoreham when they entered the water.

We'll bring you more from the latest police statement shortly.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

It has been just over 24 hours since emergency services were alerted to an incident in the water off Shoreham.

Three family members died after getting into difficulty in the water, while another family member - a young girl - remains in critical condition in hospital.

A father who died alongside two of his relatives, a woman and a teenage girl, has been identified as Hossam El-Khawas, a Palestinian refugee.

Here's a look back at how the news unfolded:

On Tuesday

• 15:00: Emergency services, including ambulance and RLNI, are called to the scene of an incident in Shoreham

• 16:44: Sussex Police say they are responding to reports of four people in difficulty in the water close to Shoreham Port. Members of the public are urged to stay clear of the area
• 19:00: Shoreham residents tell the BBC of the area flooding with ambulances and helicopters. Resident Shirley Pumfrey describes the scene as "quite scary"
• 21:33: In a news conference, police say three people - a man, a woman and teenage girl - have died, and a young girl is in a critical condition in hospital. They were all part of the same family, police say
• 21:42: Local MP Tom Rutland says he is "deeply saddened" by the news

On Wednesday

• 08:30: Members of the community say they are in shock following the tragedy, as tributes are laid at the seafront in Shoreham. The emergency services have left the scene by this point
• 12:28: Prime Minister Andy Burnham describes the incident as a "terrible family tragedy" and warns people about the dangers of open water swimming
• 13:59: The Palestinian embassy in London confirms to the BBC that a father who died in Shoreham was Hossam El-Khawas, a Palestinian refugee

Floral tributes and messages of condolences have been left on Shoreham seafront following the deaths of three family members - one of whom the Palestinian embassy in London has confirmed to be Palestinian refugee Hossam Al-Khawas.

We are still waiting for confirmation on the identities of the other family members that have died - and another relative who in critical condition in hospital.

Here's a look at some of the tributes that have been laid on the beach:

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Jack Grey
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

Three members of the same family died on Tuesday after getting into difficulty in the water off Shoreham, West Sussex.

The Palestinian embassy in London says a father who died alongside two family members was a Palestinian refugee.

The embassy have named him as Hossam El-Khawas.

What we know:

• El-Khawas was a refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon, according to the embassy
• He died alongside a woman and teenage girl - who are related to him - on Tuesday
• Another girl, also from the same family, was pulled from the sea and remains in critical condition

What we don't know:

• The identities of the other family members, or how they are related
• The exact ages of anyone involved in the incident
• The circumstances that led to the incident - Sussex police believe the family entered the water for a swim

The Palestinian Embassy in London confirms to the BBC that the father who died in Shoreham was Hossam El-Khawas, a Palestinian refugee.

He was from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon.

The embassy was unable to confirm the names of the other family members.

Image source, George Carden/BBC

A Shoreham-by-Sea shop owner says she is "still shaking" after learning that three people from the same family have died after getting into difficulty at sea.

Neha Patel, owner of the Beach Shop near where the incident unfolded on Tuesday, has "not ever" heard anything like this happen in an area that she says is "very quiet".

"I think it's a shock to everyone around here. I hope the one girl in the hospital gets better,” she says.

There remains no update on the condition of the fourth family member who was critically injured.