Skip to content

Two people die in 'tragic incident' at Mersea Island

Zoe Applegateand
Lewis Adams,in West Mersea
News imageLewis Adams/BBC An RNLI boat on the sea at West Mersea. It is orange and has at least two people clad in yellow hi-vis and yellow helmets on board.Lewis Adams/BBC

A teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died in an incident at West Mersea Beach and three people are in hospital, with one in a serious condition.

Essex Police, the RNLI and the East of England Air Ambulance were called to the seaside town near Colchester on Wednesday evening and were seen searching the coastline and the water.

West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team said it had been called to a "tragic incident" on the beach and its thoughts were with the family involved.

Police have asked the public to avoid the Seaview Avenue and beach area.

News imageLewis Adams/BBC An Essex Police estate car parked on a beach. There are colourful beach huts to its left and behind it are buildings, with their lights on.Lewis Adams/BBC
Emergency services were called to the scene on Wednesday afternoon

At the scene: BBC reporter Lewis Adams

"Part of the beach at the bottom of Seaview Avenue in West Mersea has been cordoned off and police are focusing their on-land inquiries on part of the sand where there are windbreakers in place.

This is a spot that gets really busy when it's hot, being the main beach on what is seen as a pretty exclusive island on the Essex coast, south-east of Colchester.

But tonight it is busy for a different reason. There has been a huge presence of police, paramedics and water rescue workers in the area – and they remained there as it got dark.

A lifeboat could be seen launching at one point and searching the water. Police officers are also searching the shoreline with torches as the light fades."

News imageLewis Adams/BBC A white Coastguard vehicle with the words "Search and Rescue" and "Coastguard" written on the site. It is on a beach and beyond it is sea. There are four people in blue boiler suits at its rear door, which is open.Lewis Adams/BBC
HM Coastguard was on the scene at West Mersea

An RNLI spokeswoman confirmed its West Mersea and Clacton lifeboats were launched.

The Reverend Jo Parrott said West Mersea Parish Church would be open for anyone affected.

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

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

Related links