Search and rescue operation underway after ‘group became trapped in rising tide’ at Essex beach

A search and rescue operation is ongoing for a group of people on the Essex coast.

Scores of people are feared to have drowned in what police described as an “ongoing incident” on a beach in West Mersea, Essex.

An Asian family, including children, is believed to have been stranded by the high tide after walking towards the sandy beach off the resort beach at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

When the incident emerged, at least six ambulances, a dozen police cars, a fire truck, a lifeboat, two air ambulances and a coast guard helicopter were sent to the scene.

A coastguard truck remained overnight on a shingle beach near an area cordoned off with a windbreak.

Other emergency vehicles were parked behind multicoloured pastel beach huts next to West Mersea Holiday Park.

The area is known for its strong currents that can surprise swimmers and tourists.

One holidaymaker said: ‘We heard the incident involved an Asian family. The children were in a difficult situation, the adults entered the water after them, but they still had difficulty.

Many people are feared to drown after a family is believed to have entered the water.

‘Other people on the beach also entered the water to help but it appears there were deaths.’

It was reported that two air ambulances landed in the green area next to the Sandbanks bar and restaurant in the caravan park, while the coast guard helicopter also landed on the beach.

Witnesses said they saw at least one injured person being loaded into an air ambulance, while others said they heard reports of ‘many people in the water’.

One caravan owner said: ‘The first thing we knew something was wrong was when we heard a helicopter overhead.

‘I spoke to someone who saw emergency services working on someone and pumping her chest on the beach.

‘People were shouting, ‘Come on, you can do it’. ‘They couldn’t tell whether it was a man or a woman.’

In a statement on Wednesday night, Essex Police said: ‘Emergency services are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident in West Mersea.

‘We ask the public to stay away from Seaview Boulevard and the beach area while we remain at the scene.

‘We realize this will cause some local issues, but we ask for your patience and understanding as we may be there for a while longer. Thank you.’

The same statement was also published on social media by Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were unable to comment.

An RNLI spokesman confirmed the West Mersea lifeboat was launched earlier this evening and the lifeboat from Clacton was also sent to the emergency. They added that they do not know the nature of the incident at this stage.

A spokesman for East Anglia Air Ambulance said it had sent a helicopter to West Mersea but had no further information at this stage.