A British-Bangladeshi mother and her teenage daughter have died after attempting to rescue a seven-year-old relative who got into difficulty in the sea at West Mersea Beach in Essex, police have confirmed.
The victims have been identified as Shelina Rahman, a teacher in her 40s, and her 15-year-old daughter, Sameeha Rahman. According to Essex Police, they entered the water after the young boy got into trouble as the tide came in. Despite a major rescue operation, both mother and daughter tragically lost their lives.
The seven-year-old boy, believed to be a cousin of Sameeha, was rescued from the water and remains in a critical condition on life support at a London hospital. Three other members of the same family were also taken to hospital, with two reported to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said all those involved in the incident were related. Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy and are speaking to dozens of witnesses as part of the investigation.
Shelina Rahman was the wife of Dr Mansur Rahman, a UK-based leader of Jubo Dal UK, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Family members described the deaths as a devastating loss, while friends said Shelina and Sameeha had been enjoying a family day out at the beach before the incident unfolded.
Emergency services, including the RNLI, Coastguard, Essex Police, fire crews, air ambulances and ambulance teams, responded to the scene. Lifeboats and rescue helicopters were deployed as crews searched the water and treated casualties on the beach.
Local residents said strong tidal currents in the area can be dangerous, particularly when the tide changes. Witnesses described a large-scale emergency response, with numerous rescue vehicles and helicopters arriving within minutes of the alarm being raised.
Essex Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact investigators as enquiries continue.
Source: Metro UK / Essex Police / BBC
