A mother and daughter from east London have died after getting into difficulty in the sea in Essex. They have been named as Shally Rahman, 42, and daughter Samiha Rahman, 15.
Emergency services were called to the beach in West Mersea shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday evening amid reports that several people had got into trouble in the water amid high tides.
A seven-year-old boy, a family member of the mother and daughter, remains in serious condition in hospital. Two more people are also in hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It is understood that the family, who are of Bangladeshi heritage, were visiting West Mersea from east London.
Eyewitness describes tide coming in quickly
An eyewitness said the tragedy happened as the tide came in while a group of people were on a sandbank. The witness, who did not give her name, told the Press Association: “The tide was a lot further in than it is now and that sandbank, they were on there and the tide came in. It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful.”
Speaking while sitting at a beach hut, the woman said there was “quite a commotion” and “just total panic”. She said there was a “helicopter coming in, the helicopter circling and sirens going everywhere”.
Emergency services respond
Essex Police said: “Despite the efforts of the emergency services, we can sadly confirm that a teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died.” The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed that two patients died at the scene. “Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated. One patient was transported by air to hospital, and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital,” the statement read.
The Police Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident in West Mersea” and shared thanks to the emergency services on social media.
Tributes laid at the scene
Tributes and flowers have been laid close to where the incident took place, according to the BBC. Families, dog walkers and local residents have arrived to praise emergency services and pay respects to the deceased.
Essex Police understands that the five people involved in the incident were known to each other. A cordon remains in place as enquiries continue.
