A recent family outing to West Mersea beach in Essex ended in tragedy last Wednesday, when a mother and daughter drowned after being swept out to sea. Shahin Ahmed, a relative, described the incident as being caused by a "very strong" tide that caught the group by surprise. Shelina Rahman, 41, and her 15-year-old daughter, Sameeha, both died in the incident. Mr. Ahmed's seven-year-old son, Musa, was airlifted to hospital and remains in a critical condition, currently on a life support machine in a London hospital.
Mr. Ahmed recounted the harrowing moments to Bangladeshi newspaper Surma News, explaining that a group of 12 family members were visiting West Mersea for the day. He noted that the waves had been "quite small" for most of the afternoon, with some family members paddling with "their legs in the water" just 20 minutes before they planned to leave. However, a sudden, powerful tide reportedly knocked six of them off their feet, initiating a state of panic.
Mr. Ahmed, who was packing their car at the time, rushed back to the beach upon hearing the cries for help. He described his unsuccessful attempts to swim out to his family, stating, "I went straight in to try and swim – I couldn't. It kept on pushing me back." Bystanders quickly intervened, with one individual, Craig Lowe, reportedly making three rescue attempts and administering CPR to the Rahmans. Mr. Ahmed praised these "amazing" efforts, crediting Mr. Lowe with preventing further fatalities.
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher of Essex Police previously indicated that the Rahmans were attempting to assist Musa after he encountered difficulties in the water. Three other individuals involved in the incident were also taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment. The family, including Mr. Ahmed's son, are from east London.
Following the tragedy, Mr. Ahmed has highlighted a perceived lack of adequate signage at West Mersea beach warning visitors of potential water dangers. In response, both Colchester City Council and West Mersea Town Council have stated that water safety signs are scheduled to be installed at the beach in due course. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about beach safety and the unpredictable nature of coastal waters.