A seven-year-old boy is critically ill after a family beach tragedy in West Mersea, Essex, claimed the life of a London mother and her teenage daughter. Shally Rahman, 42, and 15-year-old Samiha Rahman died trying to rescue the boy, who got into trouble in the water on Wednesday evening. Emergency services were called shortly after 5:30pm amid reports of several people in difficulty due to high tides.
Victims named and tribute paid
The victims have been named by family as Shally Rahman, 42, and her daughter Samiha Rahman, 15, from east London. A younger child, said to be a cousin of Samiha, remained in hospital overnight. Two more people were also hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries. Floral tributes have been left at the scene, including a bouquet of sunflowers with a note reading: "For a courageous mother and a brave young girl. RIP. Love and thoughts to your family."
Police investigation and appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher of Essex Police said: "My thoughts, and those of my team, are with the friends and family of the woman and girl who died yesterday. Since yesterday we have been working to establish the circumstances which led up to this incident. At this stage we believe they were trying to help a seven-year-old boy who had got into difficulties." Police have appealed for witnesses and footage, asking anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting incident 1090.
Family statements
Matiur Rahman, the brother-in-law of Shally Rahman, told the BBC: "We all feel very bad, my four brothers, my sister... everybody in the UK and back home [in Bangladesh]. My whole family - we are speechless. We can't believe what we heard from my brother. We are very shocked." He added: "Shally was a helpful person. She was a housewife and looked after the kids. She was very good actually." The father and grandfather of the victims, Mr Mujibur Rahman, said the family is still coming to terms with the losses.
Circumstances of the incident
Family friend Mishba Uddin, of Colchester, said the family were "just a working-class family going for a day out" and that the mother and teenage girl who died "were not very good swimmers". Shally Rahman’s brother-in-law, Matiur Rahman, said: "They went in Colchester, [to the] seaside and they were near water and playing with them, then suddenly a big wave came." Around 10 members of the family were on the day trip.
