A six-year-old girl has died in hospital days after being pulled from the sea off Shoreham in West Sussex, bringing the total number of fatalities in the incident to four. The child, Saja El-Khawas, had been rescued by emergency crews on Tuesday but succumbed to her injuries.

Her death follows that of her father Hassan El-Khawas, 55, her mother Zeina Alayn, 37, and her 14-year-old sister Sara, who all died despite efforts to resuscitate them at the scene.

Emergency services were alerted at approximately 14:40 BST on Tuesday to reports of four individuals in distress in the water near Shoreham Fort. The family, who lived in London and were British citizens of Palestinian origin, had travelled to the coast for the day and entered the water around 14:00 BST.

Sussex Police stated that a significant emergency response, including HM Coastguard, the RNLI, South East Coast Ambulance Service, and Sussex Police, was launched. Following a review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, the current hypothesis is that the incident was a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. A file is being prepared for the coroner.

Chief Superintendent James Collis described the update as heartbreaking, acknowledging the profound impact of the tragedy on the community and emergency responders. He thanked the public for their outpouring of sympathy and support.

The family had roots in the Rashidieh refugee camp in Lebanon, with their extended family having resided in the UK for many years, according to the Palestinian Forum. The incident has been called a "terrible family tragedy" by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Floral tributes have been left at the scene by local residents, with the Shoreham Beach Residents' Association reporting that the community has been left devastated and in shock. Local councillor Joss Loader described the events as a "shocking, heart-rending tragedy."

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the family's distress in the water remains open as authorities prepare for an inquest.