A seven-year-old boy suffered a fatal brain injury after getting into difficulty off the Essex coast, a coroner has stated. Musa Ahmed died six days after the incident in West Mersea, during which his 15-year-old cousin, Sameeha Rahman, and her mother, Shelina, 41, also died.
The family, who were visiting the island near Colchester from east London, were reportedly enjoying a day out when the tragedy occurred on July 22. Inquests into the deaths, with provisional causes given as drowning, were opened in Chelmsford. Musa also died from a hypoxic ischaemic brain injury.
Lincoln Brookes, the senior coroner for Essex, described the incident as "so tragic" and noted the profound sadness of three family members dying simultaneously. Three other individuals were taken to the hospital by ambulance following the incident and are reported to be recovering. A full inquest into the deaths is scheduled to be heard in January.