Couple who tried to save mother and daughter drowned off Essex beach 'just wanted them to survive'

A couple who tried to save a mother and daughter who drowned off West Mersea beach in Essex said 'they just wanted them to survive' and 'willed' them to breathe.Shelina Rahman, 41, and her 15-year-old daughter Sameesha both died while trying to help a seven-year-old family member who 'got into trouble' as the tide came in on Wednesday. The child was airlifted to hospital and is fighting for their life. Three others were taken by ambulance to another hospital. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 5.35pm after several people were reported to have gotten into difficulty in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, near Colchester.Craig Bowe and wife Carly, from Northaw in Hertfordshire, heard 'hysterical' screams for help from the water as they celebrated their daughter's tenth birthday.Mr Bowe, who recalled seeing the victims having a 'great time' on the beach earlier in the day, then plunged into the water. Mrs Bowe, 43, called an ambulance while her 42-year-old husband swam out to help the struggling group. Mr Bowe pulled the mother and daughter from the waves before swimming out to help the seven-year-old boy and another child on to a lifeboat. Sameeha Rahman, 15, (pictured with father Dr Mansur Rahman) died alongside her mother when she bravely tried to rescue a young child who had got into difficulty in the water The victims in the incident were British-Bangladeshi mother Shelina Rahman (pictured) and her 15-year-old daughter Craig Bowe and wife Carly, from Northaw in Hertfordshire, heard 'hysterical' screams for help from the water as they celebrated their daughter's 10th birthdayThe children were around 150 yards (137m) out at sea. The hero, who is a kitchen fitter, said: 'Initially, I thought that they were facing up, starfish, and trying to survive.'So I swam out and thought maybe I could talk to them and try, as a team to come back together.''But when I got there,' Mr Bowe told the BBC,' the first two people that I saw were actually face down, so more serious than I initially thought.' Mrs Rahman, a teacher, and Sameesha were reportedly 'not very good swimmers' and were just on a 'day out' at the beach when they tried to save the boy, from Barking, east London.Once Mr Bowe carried the pair to shore, bystanders began administering CPR as he re-entered the water to help the seven-year-old boy and another child.'I helped sort of shoo him on to the boat, because he was face down too… but the seven-year-old was not in a good way,' he said.'The waves were hitting me in the face. The current was definitely stronger.' Police attended the scene at West Mersea after several people were reported to have gotten into difficulty in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, near ColchesterIt is understood the boy could have been stranded on a sandbank when he was blocked from returning back to shore.Mrs Bowe, who was among those trying to resuscitate Mrs Rahman and her daughter, said: 'I just wanted them to survive, and just every bit in me was willing her to breathe.'But they were in the water for a long time, so it would have been hard. But everyone gave them the best chance they could.'As soon as the paramedics arrived, they ran onto the beach and did a great job in taking over from the people that were doing chest compressions, and then we all stepped away to let them.'At least six ambulances, a dozen police cars, a fire engine, a lifeboat, two air ambulances and a coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene. Mrs Bowe added: 'They really worked endlessly. To the last minute that they could, and unfortunately, it just wasn't enough for those two.'Mrs Bowe described the rescue attempt as a team effort, adding that 'everybody on that beach that day played their part'.The couple's recount comes after Naz Shah, a Labour MP, paid a personal tribute to the mother and daughter. Naz Shah, the MP for Bradford West, who knows the two who died and has previously been supported by their family has spoken of her heartbreak at the situation. Ms Shah told the Daily Mail: 'I'm devastated. They're a lovely, lovely family, I'm absolutely heartbroken for them, it's sent shockwaves through the community.'I just can't believe what's happened. I've spoken to the family, and I just broke down - I've got a 14-year-old myself.'I would just reiterate to people to follow water safety advice. And my thanks to the emergency services [who responded to the incident].'Mrs Rahman was the wife of politician Dr Mansur Rahman, leader of Jubo Dal UK – the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) – and daughter to Mujibur Rahman, former vice president of the UK BNP, originally from Chhatak Upazila in Sylhet, Bangladesh. In a social media tribute, a family friend said: 'With deep sorrow and a heavy heart, we inform you that the wife of the Joint Secretary of the UK Youth Wing, beloved Dr. Sheikh [Mansur Rahman], and his 15-year-old daughter [...] drowned in the sea yesterday. The deceased has been confirmed by the police.'We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray for the forgiveness of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the injured.'One beach hut owner told the Daily Mail how the 'horrific' scenario unfolded as the woman was 'trying to save [her] family', adding: 'Apparently she did all she could and ended up dying.'The area is known for its strong currents that can take swimmers and tourists by surprise.Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information or footage which may help Essex Police's investigation is asked to get in touch on 101 and quote incident 1090.