Heroic teenage workers at a diner near West Mersea beach dashed onto the sand after spotting casualties struggling in the water on Wednesday.
Fatalities confirmed
Police have confirmed that a woman and a teenage girl tragically lost their lives following the horrifying incident, with a further individual remaining in hospital with serious injuries. West Mersea beach, in Essex, was sealed off by officers on July 22 following reports of people in distress in the water.
Emergency response
The West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team took to Facebook in the early hours of Thursday to confirm they had responded to an incident near Seaview Avenue in West Mersea, Colchester, on Wednesday evening. Police and ambulance staff are attending and the RNLI has launched its West Mersea and Clacton lifeboats.
Teenage heroes
Three young employees from a neighbouring café rushed to assist in rescuing the family after they encountered difficulty in a 'rip tide', according to the Mirror. The teenagers – all members of staff at the Seaview Beach Cafe – were amongst the first to arrive at the scene after hearing a commotion outside.
