Rescue couple question lack of life-saving gear

A couple who tried to rescue a mother and daughter who drowned have called for more life-saving equipment on the beach where they died.

Craig Bowe, 42, battled the incoming tide at West Mersea, near Colchester, three times after hearing screams on Wednesday evening, while wife Carly, 43, rang 999.

Their daughters ran to a cafe to retrieve the life jacket and flotation ring used by Craig, who said: "I think the floating devices have to be closer to the front of the shore."

A risk assessment by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) UK in March concluded rescue equipment would be unlikely to be effectively deployed in an emergency, said Colchester City Council.

Shally Rahman, 41, and Samiha Rahman, 15, died on Wednesday while trying to help a seven-year-old relative out of the water.

"There has to be more life jackets, there has to be more rings, so the fact that my daughter had to go over the road to the cafe to get a life jacket is so frustrating," said Carly.

Craig said by the third rescue, he had put on the life jacket to help with his own buoyancy in the increasingly rough sea while he used the ring to help bring back one of the survivors.

A council spokesperson said the "installation [of life saving equipment] within the assessed area" was not recommended by the RLSS due to "factors including the beach profile, tidal range and lateral currents".

The council said it had arranged the independent beach risk assessment, which had advised improving signs about water safety.

These had been commissioned and were due to be installed later this month, the council added.

Following the tragedy, West Mersea resident Stephen Vince said: "We should have done more about signage."

He said although there were signs, he thought more were needed to warn people about the "sandbanks and the undercurrents there, and to keep inshore".

Vince said orange life rings had been installed around the beach the day before the incident due to a community effort.

"Local people got together and raised the funds," he said.

Adam Scott-Hays, chairman of West Mersea Beach Hut Watch, said: "Signage is required and it has to be simple and educational, and it needs to be put together by the right people. You need to be qualified.

"The execution of anything needs to be a co-ordinated response."

Scott-Hays added that some visitors "have no idea on tides, so there needs to be an educational element to all of this".

Matthew Dilley, a water sports and open-water coach who runs his business on the beachfront at West Mersea, said: "Even the strongest swimmer would find it very, very challenging at the highest [point] of the tide going out.

"If you're unsure of the water, wear a buoyancy aid or wear a floating device to be safe at all times."

The RLSS UK has been contacted for comment.

In a statement, the council's spokesperson added: "We recognise and appreciate the community's commitment to water safety and will continue to work with partners to review risks and consider any lessons arising from this tragic incident."

Speaking about Wednesday's tragedy, the victims' family friend Mishba Uddin, from Colchester, said: "I know it is a long process but we are hoping to get proper answers from the investigation authorities.

"They were a very good, well-respected family in our community."

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.