A woman and a teenage girl have died after a group of people ran into serious trouble in the ocean at a popular beach in England, while three others were rushed to the hospital.
The emergency unfolded at West Mersea Beach in Essex, about 70 miles northeast of London, at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.
Police said a woman in her 40s and a teenage girl could not be saved despite desperate efforts by emergency crews.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, we can sadly confirm that a teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died,” Essex Police said.
The East of England Ambulance Service sent two air ambulances, critical care paramedics and a Hazardous Area Response Team to the beach.
“Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated,” the ambulance service said.
One person was airlifted to a hospital, while three others were taken by ambulance. Police later said one patient remained in serious condition, while two others were being treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Authorities believe everyone involved knew one another, although police have not released their names or explained exactly how the group ended up in danger.
Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher thanked witnesses who had already spoken with investigators and urged anyone else who was at the beach to come forward.
“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,” Pitcher said.
Police temporarily asked the public to stay away from Seaview Avenue and the surrounding beach area while officers and rescue crews remained at the scene.
“We appreciate that this will cause some local issues, but would ask for your patience and understanding as we may be there for some time yet,” police said.
One witness told The Times that the group had been standing on a sandbar as the tide was coming in.
The woman, who was not identified, said the water can rise rapidly in that area and warned that beachgoers must be extremely careful.
“The water comes in very quickly,” she said.
She described the scene as especially shocking because the beach was crowded when the emergency unfolded.
“The beach was packed with people,” she said. “They were coming down to see what was going on.”
The deaths come during a deadly summer for open-water swimmers in the United Kingdom. At least 15 people have reportedly drowned during a period of unusually hot weather.
The investigation into the West Mersea tragedy remains ongoing.
