Musa Ahmed, a seven-year-old boy, remains in critical condition after the drowning incident at West Mersea Beach on July 22 that killed his 15-year-old cousin Sameeha Rahman and her mother Shelina Rahman, 41, police said.
Six members of the same family were in the water when they got into difficulty. The group also included two other adults and one child, all of whom made "significant efforts to help each other", Essex Police said.
Family Tragedy Unfolds
Sameeha and Shelina Rahman, from the Ilford area in east London, died in the incident. Musa was flown to hospital and remains in a critical condition. Other family members were taken to hospital and are recovering, police added.
Police Investigation
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher, leading the investigation, said: "We are continuing to support Shelina and Sameeha’s family through this extremely difficult time. They had been enjoying a family day at the beach together when this tragedy happened. We are working to establish the circumstances which led up to this incident and our inquiries are ongoing. We have spoken to a number of key witnesses and will continue to do so over the coming days and will work with partners including the fire service, local council, and coastguard."
Community Response
Chief Inspector Michelle Sparks, district commander for Colchester, praised the public's response. "There were members of the public who rushed to help the family and I want to thank them for their courage and selflessness. Since this tragic incident we have also seen an outpouring of support and sympathy. At times of tragedy you get to see how strong a community is, and we have a fantastic community on Mersea Island, and across the Colchester district."
Essex Police said officers were called by the ambulance service at 5.35pm on July 22 after reports of several people in difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed one patient was transported by air and three by road to hospital after the incident at Sea View Holiday Park.
Father Calls for Safety Review
Musa’s father, Shahin Ahmed, released a statement calling for "a review of safety measures" at the site. "I strongly agree with the calls from local residents for a review of safety measures at West Mersea Beach, including the provision of additional life-saving equipment and clear warning signage," he said. "While no action now can undo the pain we are suffering, we hope lessons can be learned to help prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future."
