East Londoner Shelina Rahman, 41, and her daughter Sameeha Rahman, 15, died in the incident at West Mersea Beach on Wednesday, while seven-year-old Musa Ahmed was left fighting for life. Essex Police said officers were called by the ambulance service at 5.35pm after reports that several people were having difficulty near Seaview Avenue.
The East of England Ambulance Service initially said one patient was transported by air and three taken by road to hospital after the incident in the water at Sea View Holiday Park.
Father releases statement
In a statement released early on Monday, Musa's father Shahin Ahmed thanked emergency services and members of the local community who tried to help during the incident, saying "their actions embodied the very best of humanity".
Mr Ahmed said: "In the aftermath of the tragic incident that took place on Wednesday at West Mersea Beach, our family has been devastated by the loss of our beloved relatives, Shelina and Sameeha Rahman, while my son Musa remains in critical condition.
"We wish to thank the members of the local community who responded to our calls for help for their extraordinary efforts.
"Several local residents and visitors to the beach that day showed exceptional courage, kindness and selflessness as they rushed to assist my family members who were struggling in the water.
"Their actions embodied the very best of humanity, and our family will always be grateful for the bravery they showed in our hour of need.
"Additionally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services, air ambulance crews and coastguard personnel who responded to the incident, as well as the medical staff who continue to assist my son."
Call for safety review
Mr Ahmed said he hoped action could be taken to prevent any similar situation from happening again.
"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."
Appeal against speculation
Mr Ahmed also called on people to "refrain from speculating" on the events that unfolded.
"During this incredibly difficult time, several inaccurate reports about what happened have been circulating within some sections of the mainstream media and on social media," he said.
"The spread of such misinformation has caused additional distress to our family, which is already enduring unimaginable grief. We respectfully ask that media organisations verify any claims that they are publishing and people refrain from speculating.
"I ask the public to continue to keep Shelina, Sameeha, Musa and all of our affected family members in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information or footage which may help Essex Police's investigation is asked to get in touch on 101 and quote incident 1090.
