Essex Police have confirmed that a woman and teen girl have died after getting into difficulty in the water at West Mersea beach on Wednesday. Teens from a nearby cafe ran to help
Emergency services on scene after an incident was declared on Mersea Island seafront(Image: Daniel Rees / Newsquest / SWNS)
Hero teenagers working in a diner close to West Mersea beach sprinted out onto the sand after they spotted casualties in the water on Wednesday.
Police have confirmed that a woman and teen girl have died following the horror incident, with another person in hospital with serious injuries. West Mersea beach, in Essex, was cordoned off by police on July 22 due to the incident, following reports of individuals in distress in the water.
The West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team posted on Facebook early Thursday that they had responded to an incident near Seaview Avenue in West Mersea, Colchester, on Wednesday evening. Three young workers at a nearby cafe at rushed out to help rescue the family after they got into difficulty in a ‘rip tide’. The teenagers – who all work at the Seaview Beach Cafe – were among the first on the scene after hearing a commotion outside.
A teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died(Image: Daniel Rees / Newsquest / SWNS)
Leonie Powling, 19, was one of the heroes who helped to save a number of people in the water. She said her thoughts were with the victims’ families. Leonie said: “We had someone run to the cafe saying they needed help, so we all stopped what we were doing and ran to the beach.
“We saw some people on the beach, and there were still some casualties in the water. We started running around, trying to find anyone with a kayak or a paddleboard. We couldn’t just run into the water because there was a riptide, and everyone would’ve just been sucked in.
“We were sat with a casualty making sure she was okay. There was another casualty we got out of the water, who was struggling to breathe at that point. One of the workers went up to her, patted her on the back and said: ‘You need to make yourself throw up’.
Three young workers at a nearby cafe at rushed out to help rescue the family(Image: BBC)
“After that, the RNLI got into the water and got the other casualties out. The ambulance and the police turned up and we were all leading them to where the casualties were.
“I’m feeling fine now, to be fair, but it’s not good to know people have died. But it’s good to know that some of them survived. That’s the best thing about it.
“We got some people out, safe and okay. One is in serious condition, but will hopefully get better. With the other two, we’re just thinking about the family. It’s heartbreaking.”
Floral tributes have been laid at the scene of the tragedy
Kiera French, 18, was working at the Seaview Beach Diner in Mersea when someone ran in shouting for help. She revealed: “Some people got into trouble in the water – quite a few of them. There was obviously quite a lot of panic on the beach. Someone was screaming for help, because I guess he couldn’t swim.
“Two young girls came over to the cafe asking for a life buoy. I pointed them in the direction of one, then got straight on to the phone to 999. I stayed on the phone to 999, and then when they arrived they took over.
“I just think they didn’t know about the tides and got caught out. It’s just unfortunate they didn’t know how strong the tide was.”
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We were called by the ambulance service at 5.35pm on Wednesday 22 July after reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, we can sadly confirm that a teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died.
“A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those affected at this very difficult time.”
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said: “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 enquiries. 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, to help us understand what happened.”
At this stage in enquiries, police believe those involved in the incident knew each other. Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information or footage which may assist the investigation is asked to contact 101 and quote incident 1090.
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