A mother and her teenage daughter have died in a beach tragedy while on a trip to the seaside in Essex. They have been named by family as Shally Rahman, 42, and her daughter Samiha, 15, from east London.
A seven-year-old child was in a serious condition in hospital, according to reports, after being rescued from the sea off West Mersea beach, near Colchester, Essex.
Family outing
A number of people from the British-Bangladeshi family are believed to have been caught on a sandbank in the incident near Sea View Holiday Park. Matiur Rahman, Shally's brother-in-law, was told in a phone call from his brother about the tragedy, according to the BBC. "They went in Colchester, (to the) seaside and they were near water and playing with them then suddenly a big wave came," he said.
About ten members of the family had been on the day out, he explained. Family friend Mishba Uddin, from Colchester, said he believed a young child had got into trouble in the water at West Mersea beach, and an older cousin then tried to help. He said the families involved in the incident had come down for the day from east London and Barking. He heard that "the little one got into trouble then the other one tried to save" the child.
Community in shock
Mr Uddin added that the family were "just a working class family going for a day out" and as far as he knew the mother and teenage girl who died "were not very good swimmers". He stressed: "We as a whole community are in shock actually. They are a very nice and likeable family. Just going for a day out."
Ms Rahman is reported to be the wife of Dr Monsur Rahman, the leader of Jubo Dal UK, the youth wing of BNP. Dr Rahman is reportedly the son of Sylhet BNP leader Sheikh Mokhon Mia. Ms Rahman is understood to have been a teacher.
Rescue attempts
Coastguards and other emergency services were called at 5.35pm on Wednesday after reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue. The East of England Ambulance Service said one patient was transported by air to hospital and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital after the incident in the water at Sea View Holiday Park.
Beach hut owner Beverly Smit, 60, of West Mersea, said she heard the emergency response and went to see what was going on. "By that time they were re-sussing the person on the beach, the helicopters were still in the fields," said Ms Smit, who works for a local dentist. She said that she spoke to a day tripper who had rented a neighbouring beach hut and had tried to help. "He saw and they were calling for help and the children and adults were out there," she said. "He swam out I think three times. Two of the children he brought back were not in good condition. It's not an easy swim when the tide's coming in, you're swimming against the tide, the water yesterday was particularly quite cold."
Carl Powling, a councillor for Colchester Council, said his daughter was one of three teenage waitresses at a local cafe who tried to help. "Three teenage girls, the waitresses in there, actually came out," he said. "One of them was on the phone directing the police where to come, the other two were on the beach assisting with the first aid, keeping people away from filming it as well." He said they helped until the coastguard arrived and there was a "phenomenal speed" of response.
Emergency services had urged people to avoid part of the beach in Essex after what the coastguard rescue team described as a "tragic incident". An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Following reports of multiple people in distress in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea yesterday evening, we dispatched multiple resources including our Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances to 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."
Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information or footage which may assist the police investigation is asked to get in touch on 101 and quote incident 1090.
'Tide came in'
A woman, who did not give her name, said the incident happened at high tide. "The tide was a lot further in than it is now and that sandbank, they were on there and the tide came in," she said, sitting at a beach hut. It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful." She said there was "quite a commotion" and "just total panic I think". She said there was "the helicopter coming in, the helicopter circling and sirens going everywhere". She added: "That was quite alarming, for a small place like this, I think that's why so many people are shocked. The beach was packed with people, they were coming down to see what was going on." She said the emergency services "worked diligently" and described the incident as "absolutely tragic".
Prime Minister responds
Andy Burnham told of his "sadness" to hear about the incident. The new Prime Minister told ITV Anglia he was "so sad to hear the news" but added: "I don't have the details at this moment in time." He added: "It does bring over, sometimes, the dangers of open water swimming at this time of the year. I just would ask people to consider that. But thank you to the emergency services who stepped in and of course, you know, we will work to support the local authorities as we get to the bottom of this."
