A west London school has paid an emotional tribute to a 14-year-old pupil who died alongside her family after getting into difficulty in the sea off the West Sussex coast near Shoreham.
Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Ealing confirmed that Sara El-Khawas was among those who lost their lives in the tragedy, describing the news as devastating for their entire school community.
In a statement, the school said it was deeply saddened by the loss of Sara and her family, remembering her as a valued member of their community. Staff and students are being supported in the wake of the heartbreaking news.
The incident happened off Shoreham-by-Sea, a coastal town in West Sussex, where the family got into trouble in the water. Emergency services were called to the scene, but despite rescue efforts, the family could not be saved.
Shoreham is a popular spot during warmer months, but the sea along that stretch of the south coast can be deceptively dangerous, with strong currents catching swimmers off guard even on calmer days.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Ealing community in west London, where the family were known and well-regarded. Sara’s schoolmates and teachers are understood to be devastated by the sudden loss of a young girl described as a valued part of school life.
Local authorities and emergency services have not yet released full details of the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but investigations are ongoing to piece together exactly what happened on the day the family entered the water.
Tributes have begun to pour in from those who knew the family, with the school making clear that support is being made available to any students or staff who are struggling to process the grief following such a sudden and tragic loss.
The death of a child and their family in circumstances like these is always a profound shock, not just to those who knew them personally but to the wider community. Schools are often left carrying much of the emotional weight when a pupil is lost so suddenly, and Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls is now facing that painful reality.
Counselling and pastoral support are expected to be made available to students in the coming days as the school tries to help young people come to terms with what has happened.
The family’s full identities and further details are expected to be released by authorities in due course as the investigation continues.
So sad, only 14. Can’t imagine what the school community must be going through right now. Thoughts with all her friends and teachers who knew her.