Mother and daughter who died at Mersea Island beach named by police
Shelina Rahman, 41, and Sameeha Rahman, 15, had jumped to try and save family members who were in trouble in the water when they lost their lives
Last updated 28th Jul 2026
A mother and daughter who died at Mersea Island beach last week have been named as Shelina Rahman, 41, and 15-year-old Sameeha Rahman.
Originally from Ilford, London, they were spending the day by the seaside when their family got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.
With three adults and three children all needing help, Shelina, Sameeha and other relatives rushed to help.
Sadly, the mother and daughter died at the scene.
Seven-year old Musa Ahmed was flown to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
A number of family members were also taken to hospital for treatment and are recovering.
Investigation lead Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said:
“We are continuing to support Shelina and Sameeha’s family through this extremely difficult time.
“They had been enjoying a family day at the beach together when this tragedy happened.
“We are working to establish the circumstances which led up to this incident and our enquiries are ongoing.
“We have spoken to a number of key witnesses and will continue to do so over the coming days and will work with partners including the fire service, local council, and coastguard.”
Chief Inspector Michelle Sparks is District Commander for Colchester. She said:
“I want to thank the community for their response to this incident.
“There were members of the public who rushed to help the family and I want to thank them for their courage and selflessness.
“Since this tragic incident we have also seen an outpouring of support and sympathy.
“At times of tragedy you get to see how strong a community is, and we have a fantastic community on Mersea Island, and across the Colchester district.”
Shelina and Sameeha’s family have asked that their privacy be respected and do not wish to be approached.
Officers have asked anyone with information to contact the force.
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