All we know so far after West Mersea beach tragedy

Emergency services were called at about 5.35pm on Wednesday, July 22, to reports that several people were in trouble in the sea near Seaview Avenue, close to the Sea View Holiday Park.

A large multi-agency response followed, involving Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, the East of England Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and RNLI lifeboat crews, with air and road ambulances taking multiple patients to hospital.

Emergency services at the scene (Image: NQ)

Essex Police said a 15-year-old girl and a 41-year-old woman died despite the efforts of rescuers.

Their names have been widely reported as Samiha Rahman and her daughter Shally, but Essex Police have not yet formally confirmed this.

A seven-year-old boy remains in hospital in a critical condition, while two other relatives are being treated for non life-threatening injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher, who is leading the investigation, said officers believe the mother and daughter were trying to help the seven-year-old when they themselves got into difficulty as the tide came in.

West Mersea beach tributes (Image: Daniel Rees, NQ)

He said: "We can now confirm they were a mother and daughter from London and we are supporting their family in what is an unimaginable time," adding that his team is working through dozens of witness accounts and pieces of footage to understand exactly what happened.

All those involved in the incident are related to each other, police have said.

The East of England Ambulance Service said one patient was flown to hospital by air ambulance and three others were taken by road after reports of multiple people in distress in the water.

Floral tributes and other mementos have since been laid on the beach near the lifebuoy posts and along the shoreline where the rescue took place, as the West Mersea community and visitors pay their respects.

Floral tributes on the beach (Image: Daniel Rees, NQ)

Local and national leaders, including the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, have offered condolences and thanked emergency crews for their response.

Staff from the nearby Seaview Beach Diner have been praised for their actions, after four teenage workers ran from the café onto the sand to help the family before emergency services arrived.

Owner Melanie Schuker said the girls grabbed a life ring, called 999 and helped keep people back from the water, with a police officer later telling them they should be proud for stepping in rather than filming the incident on their phones.

DCI Pitcher has appealed for anyone who was on or near the beach at the time and who has not yet spoken to officers to come forward.

Anyone with information, images or video which may assist the investigation is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 and quote incident 1090 of July 22, and the family has asked that their privacy be respected and that they are not approached directly.