A Palestinian couple and their teenage daughter tragically lost their lives after entering the water off Shoreham, West Sussex.
Police named the three as Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner, Zeina Alayn, 37 and their 14-year-old daughter, Sara El-Khawas.
All three were confirmed dead at the scene after being pulled from the water.
A young girl who was also part of the family remains in hospital in critical condition
The family travelled from London to visit Shoreham before getting into difficulty after entering the water.
Adnan Hmidan, the chair of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, said: “According to the information available to us, the family encountered strong currents while at sea. Their daughter, Sara, became caught in a fishing net and her father attempted to help free her.
“As the waves and currents intensified, her mother, Zeina, also entered the water to try to save them, followed by their younger daughter.
“The Khawas family are British citizens of Palestinian origin, with roots in Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon,” he said.
“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.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, particularly the children, who are facing an unimaginable loss. We ask everyone to respect their privacy and dignity at this painful time.”
“Heartbreaking tragedy”
A significant emergency service response followed, including HM Coastguard, the RNLI and South East Coast Ambulance Service and 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.
“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.
“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.”
The tragedy comes after a similar incident involving a Muslim family last month, highlighting the dangers posed by the sea.
