Tragic details emerge about death of mother and daughter at West Mersea beach

On Wednesday evening (22 July), a seven-year-old boy ‘got into trouble’ in the water on the Essex coast.

And tragically, a mum and her 15-year-old daughter died after trying to help him.

Shally Rahman, 41, and Samiha Rahman, from London, were reportedly ‘not very good swimmers’ and were just on a ‘day out’ at West Mersea beach near Colchester.

Three others were taken to hospital following the incident with the child remaining in hospital in a critical condition.

Essex Police said all the people involved knew each other, with officers called by the ambulance service at 5:35pm on Wednesday after reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.

Witnesses have described ‘horrific scenes’ as tragic details emerge from the incident at the UK beach.

They had apparently been on a 'day out' to West Mersea. (PA)

"At this stage we believe they were trying to help a seven-year-old boy who had got into difficulties," said Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher.

He explained that officers had been speaking to ‘dozens’ of witnesses to establish the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, as anyone else with information is urged to contact the force.

“My thoughts, and those of my team, are with the friends and family of the woman and girl who died yesterday,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We can now confirm they were a mother and daughter from London and we are supporting their family in what is an unimaginable time.”

Matiur Rahman, brother-in-law of Shally, spoke to the BBC and said the family had been enjoying a seaside holiday when a ‘big wave came and took them’.

“We all feel very bad, my four brothers, my sister… everybody in the UK and back home (in Bangladesh) ,” he said, speaking from Bangladesh.

“My whole family – we are speechless. We can’t believe what we heard from my brother.

“We are very shocked.”

Shally and her daughter were apparently trying to help a seven-year-old boy. (Family Handout)

He added that Samiha was a ‘very, very good person’ and described Shally as a ‘very helpful person’.

Beach hut owner Beverly Smit said she went to see what was happening after hearing the emergency response.

And she said she had spoken to a day-tripper who had tried to help.

“He saw and they were calling for help and the children and adults were out there,” she said. “He swam out, I think three times.

“Two of the children he brought back were not in good condition.

“It’s not an easy swim when the tide’s coming in, you’re swimming against the tide, the water yesterday was particularly quite cold.”

Teenage staff from a nearby diner and other passers by had apparently rushed to the water to help.

A woman claimed to the Press Association that the incident happened at high tide: “The tide was a lot further in than it is now and that sandbank, they were on there and the tide came in.

“It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful.”

Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information or footage which may assist the police investigation is asked to get in touch on 101 and quote incident 1090.