A significant search and rescue operation is ongoing at a beach in West Mersea, Essex, after a group of people, reportedly an Asian family including children, became trapped by the rising tide on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene around 5:30 p.m. after the group was believed to have walked out to a sandbank.
Multiple emergency vehicles, including at least six ambulances, a dozen police cars, a fire engine, a lifeboat, two air ambulances, and a coastguard helicopter, responded to the incident. A coastguard truck remained on the shingle beach into the night, near an area cordoned off with a windbreak. Emergency vehicles were parked behind beach huts adjacent to the West Mersea Holiday Park.
Witnesses reported hearing helicopters and seeing emergency personnel working on a person on the beach, with shouts of encouragement heard. Some witnesses indicated that children may have gotten into difficulty first, leading adults to enter the water to assist them, and subsequently also encountering trouble. Reports from the beach suggested that other individuals also entered the water in an attempt to help.
Essex Police confirmed that emergency services were on the scene of an ongoing incident and requested the public to avoid the Seaview Avenue and beach area. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the East Anglian Air Ambulance confirmed their involvement but did not provide further details at that stage. The RNLI confirmed that its West Mersea lifeboat was launched, with assistance from the Clacton lifeboat.
The area is known for its strong currents, which can pose a hazard to swimmers and tourists.