Essex Police confirmed that a teenage girl and a woman in her 40s died after the tide came in while a group of people were on a sandbank near Sea View Holiday Park in West Mersea, Essex. Police were alerted by the ambulance service at 5:35pm on Wednesday following reports of several people in difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.
Victims and injuries
A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition, and two others are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe those involved were acquainted with each other. The East of England Ambulance Service said one patient was airlifted to hospital and three others were transported by road.
Witness accounts
Beach hut owner Beverly Smit, 60, from West Mersea, said she heard the emergency response and went to investigate. “By that time they were re-sussing the person on the beach, the helicopters were still in the fields,” she said. Smit spoke to a day tripper who had attempted to help. “He saw and they were calling for help and the children and adults were out there. 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.”
A woman who declined to give her name said the incident occurred during 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. It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful.” She recalled “quite a commotion” and “just total panic”, with a “helicopter coming in, the helicopter circling and sirens going everywhere”. She praised emergency services for working “diligently” and called the incident “absolutely tragic”.
Police appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said: “Today, our thoughts remain with the family members who are coming to terms with their loss. We are grateful to the people who have already spoken to us and helped with our inquiries. We would ask anyone who was at the beach at the time, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please get in touch, to help us understand what happened.”
Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1090.
