Three members of a Palestinian British family have drowned after entering the sea off England's Sussex coast, the Palestinian embassy in London said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when the family went for a swim near Shoreham Fort in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Police, paramedics, coastguard crews, and a lifeboat were deployed, and four people were pulled from the water.

The father, Hossam al-Khawas, was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon near Tyre, according to the Press Association. Al-Khawas, a woman, and a teenage girl were pronounced dead at the scene.

A younger girl was taken to hospital in critical condition. The Palestinian mission in the UK stated that it is closely monitoring the incident and making necessary contacts with British authorities to ascertain the circumstances and check on the injured girl.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned of the dangers of open-water swimming after the incident, which he described as “a terrible family tragedy,” the BBC reported. He sent his “best wishes and love” to the family and friends of those who died and the girl who remains in critical condition.

Drownings have surged across Europe as people seek relief from the heatwave, with incidents reported in France, Germany, and the UK. Experts warn that open-water swimming carries hidden risks, including cold water shock, strong currents, and sudden changes in depth.

Source: www.aljazeera.com