Essex Police have confirmed that a woman in her 40s and a teenage girl who died after getting into difficulty at West Mersea beach are both from Barking, East London. The pair were part of a group caught on a sandbank as the tide came in near Sea View Holiday Park on Wednesday evening.
Details of the Incident
Police were called by the ambulance service at 5:35pm on Wednesday to reports of multiple people in distress in the water near Seaview Avenue, West Mersea. The force confirmed on Thursday morning that a teenage girl and a woman had died. A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition, while two others are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe all those involved knew each other.
Family and Witness Accounts
Family friend Mishba Uddin, from Colchester, visited the scene on Thursday. He stated that the victims “all came from London, they live in east London, one family live in Barking as far as I know.” He described the father as a doctor of Bangladeshi heritage and said the family are “very nice and likeable.” The group had “just came for a day out here.”
Beach hut owner Beverly Smit, 60, of West Mersea, said she heard the emergency response and saw rescuers performing CPR on the beach. She spoke to a day tripper who swam out multiple times to help, noting that “two of the children he brought back were not in good condition.” She added that the water was “particularly quite cold” and that swimming against the incoming tide was difficult.
Emergency Response
The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched multiple resources, including the Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics, and two air ambulances. One patient was airlifted to hospital, and three were transported by road. A spokesperson said: “Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated.”
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher stated: “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.”
Community Reaction
An anonymous eyewitness described “total panic” as the tide came in quickly, with a helicopter circling and sirens everywhere. Carl Powling, a Colchester councillor, praised three teenage waitresses from a local cafe who assisted with first aid and directed emergency services, calling them “very level-headed, absolutely amazing for that age group.”
Police have urged anyone with information or footage to contact them on 101, quoting incident 1090.
