A couple described their attempts to rescue a mother and daughter who drowned off an Essex beach on Wednesday. Craig and Carly Bowe, visiting from Hertfordshire, heard cries for help and saw a family in distress.
Despite the rising tide, Craig Bowe entered the water three times in an effort to bring the individuals to shore. Carly Bowe alerted emergency services. "I just wanted them to survive," she told the BBC.
Their efforts, along with those of other beachgoers and emergency responders, were ultimately unsuccessful. The mother, 41, and her daughter, 15, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two young boys were recovered from the water; one, aged 7, was airlifted to a hospital and is in critical condition.
The incident occurred on an Essex beach, prompting a response from multiple emergency teams.