Couple and daughter die off Sussex coast
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The gist
A couple and teenage daughter died off Shoreham-by-Sea; a younger girl is critical.
The family were Palestinian refugees, and the community mourns while the girl fights.
Background
On 18 August 2026, emergency services responded to reports of four people in difficulty in the sea near Shoreham Fort, West Sussex. A man, woman, and teenage girl died, while a younger girl was taken to hospital in critical condition. The family were later identified as Palestinian refugees, and local MP Tom Rutland offered condolences.
How it unfolded
- Aug 18, 2026 14:45HM Coastguard received reports of four people in difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort; multiple ambulances and two air ambulances were dispatched.
- Aug 18, 2026 22:00Sussex police confirmed a man, woman, and teenage girl died; a younger girl was in critical condition in hospital.
- Aug 19, 2026 14:00The father was identified as a Palestinian refugee; the family's names were released by police.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Sussex Police chief superintendent James Collis confirmed the deaths and appealed for information or video footage.
- Public
- A local described the water as 'incredibly rough' and winds as 'incredibly strong', according to Sky News.
- Support
- MP Tom Rutland said his thoughts were with the family and friends, and hoped for the recovery of the young girl.
Still unverified
The exact circumstances leading to the family getting into difficulty have not been confirmed; the water conditions were described by a local but not officially verified.