You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 47 minutes ago • loading... • Updated 22 minutes ago
Father who died alongside two family members in water off Shoreham was Palestinian refugee, embassy says
The Palestinian embassy identified Hossam Al-Khawas as one of three people who died after four family members were pulled from the water.
On Tuesday afternoon, Palestinian refugee Hossam Al-Khawas died alongside his wife and teenage daughter after entering the water near Shoreham Fort in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex; a younger girl remains in critical condition.
The Palestinian embassy identified Al-Khawas on Wednesday as originating from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon, a populous refugee settlement located on the Mediterranean coast in southern Lebanon.
Police, paramedics, coastguard crews and a lifeboat attended the scene where four people were pulled from the water near the 19th century Shoreham Fort on Tuesday afternoon.
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tom Rutland said everybody in the area was "shocked and saddened" and stressed the need to educate people about water safety dangers.
The Palestinian embassy stated it is "closely monitoring the incident" and extended deepest condolences to the victims' family, while specialist officers support the next of kin.