A teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died after several people got into difficulty in the water at a beach in Essex, United Kingdom.
A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition, while two others are receiving treatment for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, Essex Police said on Thursday.
Police believe those involved in the incident were known to one another.
Emergency responders were alerted by the ambulance service at about 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday following reports of people in distress near Seaview Avenue in the coastal town of West Mersea.
DCI Al Pitcher said, “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 inquiries. 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.”
Following the incident, emergency services advised the public to stay away from part of the beach on Wednesday evening, with the coastguard rescue team describing it as a “tragic incident.” The beach was reopened to the public on Thursday morning.
According to the National Water Safety Forum, which monitors such incidents, at least 29 people have died in accidental open-water incidents across the UK since mid-May 2026.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said hazardous area response teams, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances were sent 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,” the spokesperson said.
Although the area is known for strong water currents, local MP Bernard Jenkin told the BBC, “we don’t think of West Mersea Beach as a dangerous beach”.
Police have appealed to anyone who was at the beach at the time or who has relevant information or video footage to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 1090.
