Father who lost wife and daughter in West Mersea beach drowning accident speaks out about tragic loss
A grieving father who tragically lost both his wife and daughter in a drowning accident at West Mersea Beach has spoken out about his heartbreak.
Dr Mansur Rahman, 49, lost his wife Shally Rahman, who was a teacher in her 40s, as well as their 15-year-old daughter Samiha, after several people got into difficulty in the water on Wednesday (22 July).
Another family member, seven-year-old Musa Ahmed, remains in critical condition in hospital.
Essex Police said officers were called by the ambulance service at 5.35pm after reports that several people were having difficulty near Seaview Avenue.
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The force has since confirmed they believe the mother and daughter entered the water to help the young boy.
As reported by Metro, while speaking to the press about the devastating loss of his wife and daughter, Dr Rahman said: “It is with profound sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that my beloved daughter and my beloved wife passed away following a tragic accident on Wednesday.
“By the will of Allah, they returned to their creator after drowning in the water.”
He added: “I would also like to thank everyone in our community who has called, sent messages, and reached out to support us during this difficult time.
“I have not been able to answer many phone calls, but please know that I have not intentionally ignored anyone.
“The overwhelming support, love, and prayers from all of you mean more to us than words can express.”
Dr Rahman also confirmed that his nephew Musa remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and his father is by his side at the hospital.
He continued: “By the grace of God, my elder son, my elder daughter, and some other relatives survived and have returned home safely.”
Dr Rahman also told The Sun he was still suffering from shock and is ‘fighting to overcome’ the tragedy, while thanking the emergency services and beachgoers who bravely rushed to help.
It comes as Musa’s father Shahin Ahmed has also released a statement early on Monday (27 July), calling for ‘a review of safety measures’ at the site.
He thanked local residents and visitors to the beach who showed ‘exceptional courage, kindness and selflessness as they rushed to assist,’ as well as the emergency services, air ambulance crews and coastguard personnel, and medical staff.
Ahmed said he hoped action could be taken to prevent any similar situation from happening again.
The father urged: “I strongly agree with the calls from local residents for a review of safety measures at West Mersea Beach, including the provision of additional life-saving equipment and clear warning signage.
“While no action now can undo the pain we are suffering, we hope lessons can be learned to help prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.”
As per the BBC, Colchester City Council previously said: "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."
Cllr David King, Portfolio Holder for Local Government Reorganisation, Communities and Public Protection, told Tyla in a statement: “Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
“We understand the concerns being expressed by the community and welcome the passion and local knowledge of those committed to improving water safety in Mersea.
“While this incident does not appear to have taken place on council-owned land, we are committed to working with partners through the Mersea Water Safety Forum and with neighbouring landowners to promote clear and consistent water safety messaging along the coastline.
“Earlier this year, the council commissioned an independent beach risk assessment for council-owned land. The assessment concluded that the council was taking a reasonable approach to managing water safety risks and identified opportunities to update signage, which is already underway and due to be completed shortly."
The statement continued: “The assessment also recognised the challenging nature of this stretch of coastline and noted that, despite the provision of signage and other safety measures, it remains foreseeable that people can get into difficulty in the water due to the area's complex tidal movements and changing conditions.
“The sea is beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable and dangerous. We encourage everyone visiting the coast to follow water safety advice and take care in and around the water. As more information becomes available, we will continue to work with partners to consider any lessons that can be learned from this tragic incident.”
Madison Burgess