A relative of Shelina and Sameeha Rahman has said the mother and daughter died after members of his family were caught in a particularly strong tide at Mersea, Essex, last Wednesday.
Shelina Rahman, 41, a teacher, and her 15-year-old daughter Sameeha died after getting into trouble in the water on Mersea Island as they tried to save Sameeha's seven-year-old cousin, Musa Rahman. The boy continues to fight for his life in hospital.
Tragedy Unfolded 20 Minutes Before Leaving
Shahin Ahmed, Musa's father who was also present, told how the tragedy occurred just 20 minutes before the family was about to head home. He said: 'One tide, when it hit them hard all of them their feet went off… And this is where the panic mode started. This was 20 minutes before we were going to go home. The whole day, alhamdulillah (praise be to God), was really nice.'
Some 40 people have drowned in open water across the UK since May 24, during a period of several near-successive heatwaves. The Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign urges the Government to take urgent action.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
Speaking to Surma News, a Bangladeshi publication, Mr Ahmed said 12 of his family members were visiting the beach on the afternoon of the tragedy. He was packing his car when alerted to the struggles and jumped in the water in a desperate attempt to save his relations. The three were eventually pulled to the shore by bystanders, including 42-year-old kitchen fitter Craig Bowe, who hauled Shelina and Sameeha to shore and helped Musa onto a lifeboat. Mr Bowe's wife, Carly, was among those who attempted to resuscitate the mother and daughter on the shore.
Mersea is one of the most obscurely located islands in the country, its accessibility largely dictated by the ever-changing tides. Twice a day the single road in and out of the island becomes flooded, with some holidaymakers trapped for up to four hours.
Community Support and Grief
Dr Mansur Rahman, husband of Shelina and father of Sameeha, who leads Jubo Dal UK, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), shared his grief on Sunday. He said: 'It is with profound sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that my beloved daughter and my beloved wife passed away following a tragic accident on Wednesday. By the will of Allah (SWT), they returned to their creator after drowning in the water. I would also like to thank everyone in our community who has called, sent messages, and reached out to support us during this difficult time. I have not been able to answer many phone calls, but please know that I have not intentionally ignored anyone. The overwhelming support, love, and prayers from all of you mean more to us than words can express.'
