A teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died after getting into difficulty in the water off the Essex coast, police have said.
One person is also in hospital in a “serious condition”, and three others were also taken to hospital after the incident near Seaview Avenue in West Mersea, Colchester, at 5:35pm on Wednesday evening. Witnesses described how “the tide came in while a group of people were on a sandbank”, with the group “calling for help”.
Police said they believe those involved in the incident were known to each other.
The West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team said on Facebook early on Thursday that they had been called to a “tragic incident” on the beach.
Pictures show a huge emergency services presence on West Mersea beach in Essex on Wednesday evening, and a cordon remains in place on Thursday morning.
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.”
They added: ”At this stage of our enquiries, we 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 our investigation is asked to contact us on 101 and quote incident 1090.”
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Following reports of multiple people in distress in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea yesterday evening, we dispatched multiple resources including our Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances to the scene.
"Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated. One patient was transported by air to hospital, and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital."
A woman, who did not give her name, said the incident at West Mersea in Essex 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,” she said, sitting at a beach hut on the beach. “It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful.”
She said there was “quite a commotion” and “just total panic I think”.
She said there was “the helicopter coming in, the helicopter circling and sirens going everywhere”.
“That was quite alarming, for a small place like this, I think that’s why so many people are shocked,” she said. “I mean the beach was packed with people, they were coming down to see what was going on.”
She said the emergency services “worked diligently” and described the incident as “absolutely tragic”.
A worker at a nearby diner, who did not give her name, said some of their teenage staff had tried to help.
Local MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said he is "sad and very shocked" about the incident in a statement to the BBC.
"We don't think of West Mersea Beach as a dangerous beach,” he said.
"I mean, there are tidal currents but thousands of people use it as this time of year and generally feels like a very safe place.”
A spokesperson for Park Holidays UK, which owns West Mersea Holiday Park adjoining West Mersea beach, told The Independent that everyone at the park had been devastated by news of the tragedy, and that the company extended its heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of all those involved.
The spokesperson said the family associated with the incident were not staying as guests on the park.
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