A PALESTINIAN refugee, his partner and his teenage daughter died in the sea after attempting to rescue a young girl who became stuck in a fishing net.

Hossam Al-Khawas, his wife and teen daughter off the coast of Shoreham, West Sussex.

A smiling Hussam al-Khawas wearing a dark plaid coat and scarf.Palestinian refugee Hossam Al-Khawas drowned after being swept out off the coast of Shoreham Credit: Supplied Hussam al-Khawas, a man who died in an accident.Hossam’s wife also tragically died in the horror yesterday Credit: Supplied Close-up of Zeina Alian, wearing a dark green hijab and a gold star sticker on her cheek, smiling with her chin resting on her hand.Hossam’s teenage daughter also jumped in amid a frantic rescue bid to save her sister Credit: Supplied Helicopter footage of Shoreham Harbour showing numerous ambulances and police vehicles parked along the road and beach area.Aerial footage of the beach shows the huge emergency response Credit: BBC/UNPIXS

The trio had jumped in the sea in a desperate rescue bid after the younger daughter became tangled in a fishing net, eyewitnesses claim.

A girl was spotted struggling in the waves before “mayhem” broke out and a on the seafront at around 3pm.

Two helicopters, eight ambulances, lifeboat crews and the coastguard rushed to the scene shortly after the alarm was raised.

The youngster remains in hospital in a critical condition after the family of four were recovered by lifeboat crews and brought ashore.

Two air ambulances, one orange and one yellow, are on the ground at Shoreham Lifeboat station.Two helicopters, eight ambulances, lifeboat crews and the coastguard rushed to the sceneCredit: Refer to source Three police community support officers near water.A family of four were pulled from the water after getting into difficultyCredit: Refer to source

Kossam was from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon, the Palestinian Embassy confirmed this afternoon.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham sent his sympathies to the friends and family of those involved in the tragedy.

Speaking yesterday, Chief Supt James Collis said all relatives entered the water together for a swim before getting into difficulty.

Police are not searching for anyone else, but an has been launched to understand the full circumstances of the tragedy.

Horrified beachgoers watched as crews battled in vain and carried out CPR after the family members were dragged back to shore.

Medical personnel working next to an ambulance at Shoreham.A girl was spotted struggling in the waves before ‘mayhem’ broke outCredit: Refer to source Map showing the location of Shoreham-by-Sea in England, near Brighton City Airport and Lancing Beach.

Witness Joe Chrisp, 24, said: “One of the local fishermen said it was two adults, two kids.

“One of the kids apparently got caught in a fishing net.”

Anna Peacock, 81, who lives near Kingston Beach across the water from Shoreham, added emergency services were on the scene very quickly.

She said: “It was terribly sad to know that just across the road people have lost their lives.

“People come down to swim, particularly in the summertime and I don’t think they realise there’s a riptide along here.

“It’s very inviting to come to the sea, but the tide could carry you out in seconds, and I don’t think people have realised that.”

Locals also described the as very windy, and said that the sea appeared to be choppy during the horror.

During a visit to the North East today, Mr Burnham was asked if the Government needed to do more to tackle water safety.

The PM replied “Always. It’s so sad to hear what happened yesterday.

“Obviously we think there’s a young girl still in the hospital fighting for her life, and we send our best wishes and love to wider friends and family.

“But a real tragedy, a real terrible family tragedy. Always, there’s more that can be done. Obviously, we will look in detail at what happened.

“I do need to praise the emergency services, who I know were on scene very quickly yesterday.

“They’ve had a busy summer, but they were there, and we thank them. As I say, just huge sympathy to the friends and the family.”

Joss Loader, who represents Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association on Adur District Council, said there is a “strong sense of shock” in the area.

She said: “Obviously people are really concerned for the young girl.

“A small tightly knight community with a very deep sense of shock and that sense of disbelief you get after a tragedy…

“It has come out of nowhere.”