Inquest Opens Into Deaths Of Shoreham Family

An inquest has opened into the deaths of four members of a family who got into difficulty in the sea off Shoreham.

Hussam El-Khawas, 55, Zeina Alayan, 37, and their 13-year-old daughter Sara died after being brought ashore by lifeboat crews on 18 August.

Their six-year-old daughter Saja died three days later at a children's hospital in London.

The family, who lived in north-west London, had travelled to Shoreham and entered the water near Shoreham Fort at around 2pm.

A major emergency response was launched after they were reported to be in difficulty.

The inquest at Horsham was opened and adjourned by senior coroner Penelope Schofield, who offered her condolences to the family's relatives.

No provisional cause of death has been given for the four family members.

The inquest heard Saja had been resuscitated but suffered signs of brain injury during her treatment.

Sussex Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but the coroner was told officers are satisfied there was no third-party involvement.

The inquest is expected to resume in March 2027, once the police investigation has concluded.

The family were later repatriated to Lebanon, where a funeral was held.