Mother, daughter drown at West Mersea Beach, son critical

A mother and daughter died and a young boy remains in critical condition after a family group got into difficulty in the water at West Mersea Beach in Essex last week. Shelina Rahman, 41, and her 15-year-old daughter, Sameeha, both from Ilford in east London, died following the incident on the afternoon of July 22. A seven-year-old boy, identified by family as Musa Ahmed, was airlifted to a hospital where he remains in critical condition.

According to Essex Police, officers were called by ambulance services at 5:35 p.m. on July 22 to reports of several people in difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue. Emergency services, including the coastguard, responded to the scene at the Sea View Holiday Park. Authorities confirmed that a number of other family members were also taken to the hospital for treatment and are now recovering.

A relative of the victims described the incident as stemming from a sudden, powerful tide. Shahin Ahmed, Musa's father, who was present, said the family was preparing to leave the beach about 20 minutes later when a strong tide caught them, causing panic. He stated that 12 family members had been visiting the beach that afternoon. Bystanders, including...